DISTRIBUTION:

Decachorda bouvieri flies in Africa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, northern Zambia, Tanzania and western Kenya. Specimens have been taken in Kasindi and Elisabethville in DRC.

Decachorda bouvieri is darker compared to other species, mostly due to a dense dusting of black scales. The body, particularly the abdomen, tends to be pink. The postmedian line is wide in the male, thin in the female, slightly convex and diffuse. The hindwing is considerably paler with a diffuse cell spot in the male.

In the female (forewing length = 19-20mm), the hindwing is more evenly coloured and matches the forewing. The cell spot is distinct.

Decachorda bouvieri, male (verso), Kasindi, Dem. Rep. Congo, April?,
courtesy of Lepidoptera Types of the Royal Museum for Central Africa

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies from January and April and possibly at other times.

Decachorda bouvieri larvae probably feed on Hyparrhenia.

Decachorda bouvieri, female, January 21, 1924 Elisabethville, Dem. Rep. Congo, January,
courtesy of Lepidoptera Types of the Royal Museum for Central Africa

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Decachorda bouvieri, female (verso), January 21, 1924 Elisabethville, Dem. Rep. Congo, January,
courtesy of Lepidoptera Types of the Royal Museum for Central Africa

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.

Hyparrhenia......

Thatching 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 "bouvieri" is honourific for Professor E. L. Bouvier of the Paris Museum.