DISTRIBUTION:

Orthogonioptilum chalix (wingspan: males: 55-58mm; females: 70-73) flies in
northeastern Cameroon
southwestern Chad, and
possibly in northwestern Republic of Central Africa and
possibly in northern Nigeria.

This is the only Ortogonioptilum species from those savannas of high temperatures and limited rainfall.

The male forewing is very falcate with a pointed apex. The wings and body are dark yellow with a well marked postmedian line on all wings. On the forewing the am line is vestigiale; on the hindwing it is absent.

The cell areas are slightly darker, more toward orange. There are two very small hyaline spots on the forewing and three spots on the hindwing.

The female is marked like the male. The forewing apex is long and thin. On the hindwing, the apex projects and is very angular, and then the convex outer margin becomes very regular until the lobed anal angle. The forewing window area is large, with a dark yellow dot in the center and an elongated black area at its outer edge.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies in April and possibly again in the fall at elevations of 2000 feet.

Orthogonioptilum chalix larval hosts are unknown.

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.

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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 Orthogonioptilum refers to the nearly right angle at the anal angle of the forewing.

The species name is possibly for the chalky buff-grey areas outside the pm line.