DISTRIBUTION:

Pselaphelia neglecta (wingspan: males: 73-80mm; females: 80mm) flies in
south central Ivory Coast;
Guinea Conakry (BOLD);
Gabon; and
Equatorial Guinea.

If my identification of Alain Coache's female specimen is correct, it also flies in Benin.

Pselaphelia neglecta male, 80mm, BOLD Systems.

The general colour of the body and wings is a dull yellowish-grey or greyish-yellow, with a generous speckling of scattered reddish-grey scales.

Visit Pselaphelia Comparison Plate for identification purposes.

Pselaphelia neglecta male, 80mm, BOLD Systems.

The forewing is less produced than in other species, and the apex is rounded and the wing greatly curved along the costa.

Pselaphelia neglecta male, 73mm, BOLD Systems.

The cell is small and rounded and the small "point of light" is oval, ringed with fine grey-brown and surrounded by a wider ring of red. The well defined transverse line is grey-brown but not as full as in laclosi. The outer line is equally well marked and is only slightly and evenly curved. There are some dark spots (variable) near the bottom of the submarginal area.

Pselaphelia neglecta male, 76mm, BOLD Systems.

The hindwing cell is small, slightly oval, with a tiny point of light surrounded by bright orangey-yellow encircled with a thin black ring bordered by pale yellow and then diffuse rose.

As in the forewing, there are some dark spots in the marginal area, especially near the anal angle.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been taken in April and June.

The Pselaphelia neglecta larval host is unknown.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from subterranean pupae.

Pselaphelia neglecta, BOLD Systems.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Pselaphelia neglecta females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their highly developed antennae to track the scent plume at night to locate the calling females.

Pselaphelia neglecta, Benin, courtesy/copyright of Alain Coache,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Pselaphelia neglecta, Benin, courtesy/copyright of Alain Coache,
tentative id by Bill Oehlke.

Pselaphelia neglecta female, 80mm, on my home computer only.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS AND PUPAE:

Mature larvae leave the host plant to excavate tunnels into the earth. Pupation is in a subterranean chamber.

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. It is based on commonly accepted English pronunciation of Greek names and/or some fairly well accepted "rules" for latinized scientific names.

The suggested pronunciations, on this page and on other pages, are primarily put forward to assist those who hear with internal ears as they read.

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

I do not know the source of Pselaphelia, but it may have something to do with the dark bar (shadow) passing below the cell in the type species gemmifera. Aphelia is the point on the orbit of a celestial body that is farthest from the sun; I think "psel" is associated with 'shadow'.

The species name neglecta may indicate the species has been overlooked.

Pselaphelia neglecta male, Parc National d'Asaguy, Ivory Coast, by Philippe Darge,
on my home computer only.

Pselaphelia neglecta male (verso), Parc National d'Asaguy, Ivory Coast, by Philippe Darge,
on my home computer only.