Gynanisa Maja

Gynanisa Maja(Gynanisa Maja)

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

Genus –gynanisa

Appearance

The younger caterpillars are brown with many growing tufts of hairs, which later become lighter. The older caterpillar is bright green with small white dots and a red-brown stripe on its side. It has thick white spikes on its back.

The wingspan of these butterflies is 110-125 mm. The body is covered with hairs. Males have feathery antennae. The color of the butterflies is grayish-brown with a trickle pattern and thin horizontal dark and light stripes. There are black spots on the hindwings, surrounded by rings of black, pink, brownish-red, and ochreous. They look like the eyes of an owl.

Habitat

It is known from South Africa to eastern Africa (up to Angola and Zambia).

Behavior

Gynanisa Majais active at night.Adults are on wing from late December to early February.

Early instar larvae are gregarious. As they develop, they become solitary feeders, hiding on the underside of leaf stems and twigs. Fully grown larvae descend from the host plant to pupate in deep underground chambers.

Diet

Larvae have been recorded on Acacia erioloba, Acacia karroo, Acacia mollissima, Berlinia paniculata, Brachystegia venosa, Cassia, Colophospermum mopane, Elephantorrhiza burchelli, Julbernardia, Laburnum, Peltophorum, Prunus persica, Pterocarpus, Quercus gambelii, Quercus robur, Quercus turneri, Robinia pseudoacacia and Schotia.

Adult butterflies of Gynanisa Majado not feed and live off the stocks accumulated during the larval period.

Reproduction

For their reproduction you need a terrarium with a size of 50 x 50 x 70 cm.The female lays eggs in groups of 10-12. If the newborn caterpillars do not begin to feed, they should be brought for 1-2 days to a dark place.In the container, you need to put an oak branch. Forage plants should be replaced every 3-4 days. Caterpillars depend on the air temperature — it should be about 25 ^oC.The caterpillar develops for 1-2 months. Older caterpillars should be placed in a terrarium with a slightly moist, loose coconut substrate with a layer of 20-25 cm, since the caterpillars pupate underground at a depth of up to 20 cm. The substrate must be kept in a slightly moist state. Butterflies can hatch from the pupa after a few weeks or months, but sometimes they only hatch after 1-3 years.

In captivity

The mesh terrarium with a size of 50 × 50 × 70 mm is suitable for keeping butterflies. Room temperature is necessary.