Argema mimosae

Argema mimosae (Argema mimosae)

Phylum — arthropoda
Class — insecta
Order — lepidoptera
Family — saturniidae

Genus – argema

          Appearance        

Larva are green with thin white bands and rows of long projections on the back.

An adult can measure 10 to 12 centimeters (3.9 to 4.7 in) across its wingspan and 12 to 14 centimeters (4.7 to 5.5 in) from head to the tip of its elongated tail-like second pair of wings. Its forward wings have a distinctive grey-colored "furry" leading edge, giving a very rough surface, presumably for aerodynamic reasons. Apart from the eye-like markings on its wings, the coloring and shape of the wings give the appearance of a piece of foliage, especially the tail-like structures of the rearmost wings which resemble a dried out leaf stem - presumably for camouflage in its natural environment.

Habitat

It is found in Eastern and Southern Africa.

Behavior

There are two generations each year making it possible to see adults for a short time in the spring and fall.

At night females release a pheromone into the air. Males flying through the air sense the pheromone and follow it back to female. The female and male, in some cases, can remain copulated until the next night. 

Diet

Larvae feed on corkwood (Commiphora), marula (Sclerocarya birrea) and tamboti (Spirostachys africana).

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 50 x 50 x 70 cm. The eggs are white and oval. The duration of incubation is 10-12 days. Incubation at a humidity of 70-80% and a temperature of 22-24 °C. If the newborn caterpillars do not begin to feed, they should be placed for 1-2 days in a dark place. The caterpillars should be kept in plastic containers of 6-8 pieces. In the container, you need to place a branch of the forage plant. Forage plants should be replaced every 3-4 days. Insects should be kept at the temperature of about 25°C and humidity 70-80%. The caterpillar develops for 4-5 weeks. Then the caterpillar makes a cocoon on a twig, in which it pupates. The cocoons are silvery and pitted with small holes. The container with cocoons should be sprayed daily, because in nature butterflies hatch during the rainy season. The butterfly leaves the cocoon after 4 weeks. The butterfly's life span is 7-8 days.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary. Adult butterflies of this species do not feed and live off the stocks accumulated during the larval period.