African Moon Moth
TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)
Family: Saturniidae
Genus/species: Argema mimosae
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color is emerald green with yellow and red eyespots on wings. Larva are green with thin white bands and rows of long projections on back. The cocoons are silvery and pitted with small holes. This Moth has no moving mouth parts. Its one week adult life consists of living off stored fat, mating and laying eggs.
Females release pheromones which are detected by the males large feathery antennae.
Wing Span 10-12 cm (4-5 inches)
DISTRIBUTION: Eastern and Southern Africa
References
California Academy of Sciences Rainforest 2017
flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/33175672016/in/datepost...
Wordpress Shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-1Mi
reimangardens.com/ www.reimangardens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/african_...
African Moon Moth
TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies)
Family: Saturniidae
Genus/species: Argema mimosae
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Color is emerald green with yellow and red eyespots on wings. Larva are green with thin white bands and rows of long projections on back. The cocoons are silvery and pitted with small holes. This Moth has no moving mouth parts. Its one week adult life consists of living off stored fat, mating and laying eggs.
Females release pheromones which are detected by the males large feathery antennae.
Wing Span 10-12 cm (4-5 inches)
DISTRIBUTION: Eastern and Southern Africa
References
California Academy of Sciences Rainforest 2017
flickr www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/33175672016/in/datepost...
Wordpress Shortlink wp.me/p1DZ4b-1Mi
reimangardens.com/ www.reimangardens.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/african_...