DISTRIBUTION:

The Adafroptilum acutum moth (wingspan: males: 46-53mm; females: 61mm) flies in central Malawi, Africa.

The ground colour is a bright rosy-brown. In the male, the forewing apex is slightly elongated but rounded. The outer margin is concave. The dark grey am and pm lines are thin but well marked. The marginal area has seven darker brown, grainy regions denoting the submarginal line.

There are three linear, medium-sized "points of light" with a fourth internal, smaller one between the second and third points.

The hindwing is similarly patterned, but markings are less pronounced with the am line vestigial. There are three smaller points of light, forming a triangle.

In the female, the forewing outer margin is very convex, hollowed out just below the pointed tip.

The dark grey am and pm lines delineate a much darker brown median area that contains a smaller point of light, underscored by a larger anvil-shaped hyaline area, underscored by an even larger, c-shaped (sometimes closed with an island) hyaline mark.

The hindwing is more uniform, with an am line that is vestigial, a thin but distinct pm line, and a single small circular "point of light" underscored by a much larger c-shaped hyaline mark.

On the underside of the forewing, there is a dark brown patch near the base of the pm line.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths have been observed on the wing in December at elevations around 4200 feet.

Adafroptilum acutum larval hosts are unknown.

Adafroptilum acutum allotype female, courtesy of Stefan Naumann.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

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