Brahmaea (Bramophthalma) wallichii wallichii (Gray, 1831) Brahmaea wallichii male from Nepal.

Wavy lines and alternating light and dark colours provide considerable camouflage on tree bark.

Brahmaea wallichii and Brahmaea hearseyi are very similar, however, "in the apical patches on the forewings in B. hearseyi the inner margin curves towards the body, while in B. wallichii it curves outwards and is more jagged." Alan Marson.

Brahmaea wallichii, northeast India, May 2006,

courtesy/copyright Charles Bordelon and Ed Knudson.

There are at least two subspecies: wallichii insulata from Taiwan and wallichi saifulica.

Moths are on the wing as two broods with the first appearing in April-May and the second brood emerging in August. Some moths are quite gray with a greenish tinge in basic foreground colour while others are brown.

Larvae feed on Lilac (Syringa) and Privet (Ligustrum).

Mature larvae descend host foliage to pupate underground or under surface litter. Pupae can be stored at 8-13 Celsius during the winter months.

This species likes it warm and is reportedly easy to rear in captivity. Brahmaea wallichii is celebrated on a postage stamp of the Republic of Maldives.

Alan Marson has written an excellent article on the rearing of Brahmaeidae.

Visit Rearing & breeding Brahmaea hearseyi in the UK.

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