Gonimbrasia (Nudaurelia) nyassana

 

 

Distribution:

only reported from Tanzania and Malawi. The animals depicted here originate from the Dzalanyama Forest (Malawi), where they are seasonally abundant

Wingspan:

a smaller and more delicate species with a wingspan between 8 and 10 cm, in captivity usually to the smaller side of that range

Season:

one flight annually at the beginning of the wet season (first weeks of December).  Pupal stage can take months

Food plants:

Rubus, Rosa, when older also Prunus laurocerasus

Rearing:

Not an easy species, however this probably has more to do with rearing them throughout the winter with lesser quality of food and conditions that are more or less the opposite of what they are used to. Keep in spacious, well ventilated plastic containers. Watch out for condensation and do not give wet leaves. Make sure the food is clean and fresh.  Keep at living room temperature or warmer (around 25°C is ideal). The caterpillars are slow growing and ready to pupate within 8 to 9 weeks. The pupal stage can take several months. They will not produce a second flight in captivity, so don't force them.

Difficulties:

available during European winter months, which complicates rearing a lot