DISTRIBUTION:

Decachorda seydeli (wingspan: females: approximately 40 mm; males: 33-39mm) flies in
the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Elisabethville=Lubumbashi); and in
Zambia: Northwestern Province.

I have very little information about many of the African species. Distribution/range, flight times, images, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

Send info and/or pictures to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com. Every little bit helps!

In the female, a thin outer line separates an orangey-brown basal-median area from a darker postmedian/submarginal area. There is a generous sprinking of dark scales on all wings. On each wing, the cell spot is off-white (tending toward yellow), out-lined faintly in black and seems to be "pointed" toward the outer margin.

The male has similar markings, but rather than a definite pm line on each wing, there is a dramatic change in colouration in a convex arc, separating the lighter basal-median area from the post median area. The cell mark is white, circular, and with a dark outline. The forewing outer margin is markedly convex with a fringe concolourous with the basal median area.

Pinhey describes D. aspersa as having a similar wing colour pattern.

Decachorda seydeli male, 39mm, Mwinilunga, Northwestern Province, Zambia,
on my home compuiter only.

Decachorda seydeli male, 33mm, Mwinilunga, Northwestern Province, Zambia,
on my home compuiter only.

Decachorda seydeli male, 38mm, Mwinilunga, Northwestern Province, Zambia,
on my home compuiter only.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies in December and probably in April and at others times.

Decachorda seydeli larvae probably feed on Hyparrhenia or grasses.

Decachorda seydeli female (verso), Elisabethville, DRC, December 3, 1930,
courtesy of Lepidoptera Types of the Royal Museum for Central Africa

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Larval Food Plants

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 "seydeli" is honourific for Charles Seydel of Katanga.