Page 406 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

MOTH CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Saturniidae
DISTRIBUTION Eastern Africa, from KwaZulu-Natal north to southern Kenya,
coastal areas
HABITAT Tropical forests and savannahs
HOST PLANTS Various, including Castor Bean (Ricinus communis),
Guava (Psidium guajava), and mango (Mangera spp.)
NOTE Caterpillar that is used as food in southern Africa
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but declining in some parts of its range

ADULT WINGSPAN
4⅛–5¼ in (105–135 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
4 in (100 mm) IMBRASIA WAHLBERGI
WAHLBERG’S EMPEROR
SILKMOTH
404
BOISDUVAL, 1847

The Wahlberg’s Emperor Silkmoth begins life as an orange
caterpillar during its rst instar but, after molting to its second

instar, becomes black with orange bands. It feeds in small
groups during earlier stages but gains greater independence as
it matures. Each instar requires about one week of feeding, and

at the end of the fth instar the caterpillar stops eating, becomes
discolored, and discharges its gut content. It then burrows into
the ground, where it forms a chamber in which to pupate.

Imbrasia wahlbergi belongs to a tribe, called Bunaeini, of large,
colorful African moths that have a round eyespot on each hind
wing and produce large, non-stinging caterpillars. The larvae,
which are often plentiful, are actively sought for food by several
southern African cultures. Overharvesting has greatly reduced
some populations in certain areas, but, with proper management,
the caterpillars can remain an important food source.

The Wahlberg’s Emperor Silkmoth
caterpillar is deep black with white,
ovoid spiracles. There are a pair
of orange, eshy, backwardly bent
sharp “horns” on the dorsum of
each segment, with long, white,
weak bristles radiating from each
horn and regularly spaced over
the entire caterpillar. The legs and
head are black.

Actual size