African Silk Moth
Common NameAfrican Silk Moth
Scientific NameAnaphe reticulata
FamilyNotodontidae
SubfamilyThaumetopoeinae
Wingspan (mm)50
Primary Colorsdark brown, grey, silvery-white, orange-brown
HabitatWoodlands, savannas, forest edges
Geographic RangeSub-Saharan Africa
Host PlantsBrachystegia, Isoberlinia, Acacia, Combretum
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions, peaking during rainy seasons
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay communal egg masses. Larvae are gregarious, forming silken nests and pupating communally within a large silken cocoon mass.
Identification TipsLook for its robust, hairy body, cryptically colored forewings with silvery dusting, and the presence of communal egg masses or larval nests on host trees.
Description
A robust, hairy moth with dark brown to grey forewings heavily dusted with silvery-white scales, and a densely furred orange-brown head and thorax.
