About Amata cerbera kilimandjaronis Strand, 1917
This moth taxon is scientifically named Amata cerbera kilimandjaronis Strand, 1917. Description of the upperside: The antennae and head are black. The thorax and abdomen are shining blueish green; the abdomen has three scarlet rings across its midsection that extend from side to side, but do not meet on the underside. The forewings are dark green, with six glass-like transparent spots: the smallest spot, near the base, is round; three spots located next to the outer margin are oblong; the remaining two spots in the middle are oval and triangular. The hindwings are dark green, with two transparent spots: the larger spot is next to the base (shoulder), and the other is a small, round spot beyond the middle. Description of the underside: The breast, abdomen, and legs are shining mazarine blue that leans toward green; the breast has a small red spot close to the base (shoulders) of the forewings. One joint of the hind legs is white. The underside of the wings is the same color as the upperside. It ranges across Angola, the DRC, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda. Its larvae feed on species in the genera Rumex, Corylus, Plantago and Rubus. They have also been recorded feeding on various grasses (including Festuca and Anthoxanthum), Thapsia, Taraxacum, Urtica, Sonchus species, and even hay and paper.
