Cabbage tree emperor moth

Bunaea alcinoe

''Bunaea alcinoe'', /bjuːˈniːə ælˈsɪnoʊiː/ the cabbage tree emperor moth, is an African moth species belonging to the family Saturniidae. It was first described by Caspar Stoll in 1780.

Larva: Final instar about 70 mm in length and about 15 mm in diameter. "Ground colour deep velvety black; each somite, from 4th to 12th, bearing eight white/yellow tubercular processes, two subdorsally, two laterally, and four on each side subspiracularly. The 2nd somite bears four black processes, two subdorsally and two laterally. The 3rd somite bears 4 black processes, as in the 2nd, and two small yellow processes on each side, in line with the subspiracular processes on the other somites. Spiracles red; those on the 4th to 11th somites being surrounded by an irregularly shaped red area. Head and legs concolorous with body".
Bunaea alcinoe  Bunaea alcinoe,Cabbage tree emperor moth,Democratic Republic of the Congo,Geotagged,Summer

Food

Food plants: Species of the genera ''Bauhinia'', ''Croton'', ''Cussonia'' and ''Celtis'' and the species ''Harpephyllum caffrum'' and ''Ekebergia capensis''. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo the larvae feed on ''Sarcocephalus latifolius'', ''Crossopteryx febrifuga'' and ''Dacryodes edulis''.
Larva of Cabbage Tree Emperor Butterfly (Bunaea alcinoe) at Kidepo Valley Several larvae of this Bunaea alcinoe detected at Kidepo Valley, 01.07.2017 Bunaea alcinoe,Butterfly,Cabbage Tree Emperor,Cabbage tree emperor moth,Kidepo Valley,Uganda,larva

Cultural

In Greek mythology Alcinoe was the daughter of Polybus of Corinth. Alcinoe was also the name of a naiad, daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.

References:

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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderLepidoptera
FamilySaturniidae
GenusBunaea
SpeciesB. alcinoe