Gonimbrasia belina - Mopane moth, Mopane worm, Anomalous emperor

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Gonimbrasia belina

Photo(s): Bart Wursten, Sinamatela Camp, Hwange National Park.

Species details:

Note: The larvae of this species are the well-known Mopane worms, a popular traditional food source in much of the southern African region. These caterpillars are not restricted to the mopane tree (Colophosperma mopane) for their food source but can be found on quite a number of different species. It is due to the dominant nature of the mopane tree and the subsequent collection of vast numbers of caterpillars from these trees that the tree and this moth are usually only associated with each other.
Distribution: Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, DRC, Uganda, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Related plant families:
Related plant genera:
EbenaceaeDiospyros (Larval foodplant)
MoraceaeFicus (Larval foodplant)
Related plant species:
Literature:



Flora of Rwanda: Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths: Gonimbrasia belina .
https://www.rwandaflora.com/speciesdata/insect-display.php?insect_species_id=402540, retrieved 9 November 2024

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