Lobobunaea christyi
Distribution:
West and Central Africa, from Guinea to Kenya and south to Congo (RDC) and Tanzania. The moths displayed here are from Ghana (Amedzofe, Volta Region)
Wingspan:
in between 14 and 16 cm
Season:
one to two flights annually during the wet season. In captivity very irregular and hard to synchronize.
Food plants:
Acer (best), also Rhus, Quercus, Fagus, Carpinus
Rearing:
Can be a bit tricky, requires very clean food. Keep warm (minimum room temperature), in spacious well ventilated plastic containers when young, but netted cages when they've reached the final instar The caterpillars tolerate company very well, but need more space in the final instar. Keep dry (avoid condensation and wet leaves, do not spray). Fast growing. Ready to pupate within 5 to 6 weeks. When ready to pupate move to individual plastic containers lined with paper towels until they have pupated. The pupal stage can be several months to over a year. Moths emerge very irregular in captivity.
Difficulties:
getting the moths to emerge