Bunaea alcinoe

Taxobox
name = Cabbage tree emperor moth

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regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
class = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Saturniidae
genus = "Bunaea"
species = "B. alcinoe"
binomial = "Bunaea alcinoe"
binomial_authority = (Stoll, 1780)

"Bunaea alcinoe" or Cabbage tree emperor moth is an African moth species belonging to the family Saturniidae.

Larva Final instar about 70mm in length and about 15mm in diameter. 'Ground colour deep velvety black; each somite, from 4th to 12th, bearing eight yellow tubercular processes, two subdorsally, two laterally, and four (in two rows) 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' (Fawcett).

Food plants "Cussonia" spp, "Celtis" spp, and "Ekebergia capensis".

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

*Distant, W. L. "Insecta transvaalensia" (Francis Edwards, London 1924)

External links

* [http://silkmoths.bizland.com/kwbalcinoe.htm Bunaea alcinoe images]
* [http://www.saturniidae-breeder.de/Bunaea_alcinoe.htm Bunaea alcinoe images]