Zig-Zag Emperor Silkmoth
Common NameZig-Zag Emperor Silkmoth
Scientific NameGonimbrasia zambesina
FamilySaturniidae
SubfamilySaturniinae
Wingspan (mm)120
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, tan, black, white
HabitatSavanna woodlands, dry forests, Mopane woodlands
Geographic RangeSouthern and East Africa (e.g., South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Kenya)
Host PlantsColophospermum mopane, Brachystegia, Julbernardia, Acacia, Combretum, Terminalia
Flight PeriodNovember to April (in Southern Africa)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThe larvae, known as mopane worms, are large, spiny, and feed gregariously on host plants. They pupate underground or in leaf litter, emerging as adults after a pupal stage that can last several months.
Identification TipsKey features include its large size, overall cryptic brown/grey coloration, and especially the prominent, complex eyespots on all four wings, combined with the zigzag submarginal lines.
Description
A large, robust moth with cryptic brown and grey wings, featuring prominent, multi-ringed eyespots on both forewings and hindwings, and distinctive zigzag patterns along the wing margins.
