Page 401 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION South Africa, from Eastern Cape north to Mozambique
HABITAT Open forests of Mopane (Colophospermum mopane) and
Brachystegia spp.
HOST PLANTS Acacia (Acacia spp.)
NOTE Giant silkmoth caterpillar that resembles and mimics small leaves
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated

ADULT WINGSPAN
4⅝–5 in (120–130 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
3¾ in (95 mm)
GYNANISA MAIA (MAJA)
SPECKLED EMPEROR 399

(KLUG, 1836)

The Speckled Emperor caterpillar hatches among a small group
of semiround eggs marbled brown and white. Initially black
with a tan lateral stripe and black head, it becomes green after
molting to the second instar. During its ve instars, the larva

develops long, silver spikes on its dorsum, which serve to break
up its green appearance as it feeds on the tiny compound lea ets

of the acacia tree, making it di cult to see.
Like the caterpillars of most African giant silkmoths, the The Speckled Emperor caterpillar is green and

Speckled Emperor descends to the ground after its fth instar densely covered with variously sized white and
blue ovals. The dorsum has many toothlike, silver
to pupate in the subterranean chamber it excavates, and remains thorns tipped with yellow, and there is a green
there until the following rainy season. The adult Speckled lateral band with yellow scoli. The spiracles are
black ovals, each with a central yellow slit. The
Emperor is similar to the More Speckled Emperor (Gynanisa head is green, and the feet are black and yellow.
nigra), although G. nigra is smaller and darker, with greater
speckling and a wider range, throughout much of eastern and
central southern Africa. The genus Gynanisa includes
more than 15 species, all African.

Actual size