DISTRIBUTION:

The Dusky Speckled Roundwing, Decachorda aspersa, (forewing length = 26-30mm) flies in Zimbabwe, Zambia: Copper Belt??; and Rwanda. It may also fly in Kenya, (Thierry Bouyer does not confirm it for Kenya) and into western Africa (Pinhey). Thierry confirms it for Cameroon.

The ground colour is reddish-yellow to orange. There is a generous sprinking of dark spots and the pm line is straight, distinct and narrow.

Pinhey indicates the outer line separates an orange basal-median area from a pale purplish brown marginal area. Such a pattern is not evident in the specimen depicted above. I do not know if such variation is consistent within the species, if the identification is wrong or if Pinhey's description is wrong.

Decachorda aspersa male, Sakania, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
January 6, 2013, courtesy of Nigel Voaden,
tentative id confirmation by Bill Oehlke.

Pinhey also indicates a brown thoracic collar for aspersa. The speckling and relatively thin and straight outer line, however, are consistent with Pinhey's images and decription. Pinhey indicates this moth is very similar to pomona.

Based solely on Pinhey's description and image, I would tend to identify all moths on this page (except that provided by Nigel Voaden) as D. fulvia due to absence of purplish marginal area.

Nigel's image is a very good match for Pinhey's description of aspersa, but I cannot rule out fulvia, pamona or inspersa. Hopefully in my lifetime there will be a comprehensive and accruate reference for African Saturniidae.

The moth below, sent to me as Decachorda pomona, seems a better match for Pinhey's description of aspersa. My comments are in no way to be interpreted as either a criticism of Pinhey's work or of Eric van Schayck's identifications. Much work still needs to be done on this genus.

Decachorda pomona?? (male), Tanzania, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I do not know the flight season, although the specimen from Sakania was taken in January.

Decachorda aspersa larvae feed on Chloris virgata.

Decachorda aspersa?? (female), Rwanda, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS 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.

Chloris virgata......

Rhodes grass

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The pronunciation of scientific names is troublesome for many. The "suggestion" at the top of the page is merely a suggestion.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The genus name Decachorda means ten chords and may refer to the number of veins on the forewing.

The species name "aspersa" means 'a sprinkling' and refers to the dark dots speckling the wings.