DISTRIBUTION:

Protogynanisa probsti flies in Kenya and Tanzania, Africa.

The species is named to honour Helmut Probst.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect?? flight would be in January-February. Protogynanisa probsti larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

These night flying moths pair after dark and both sexes are attracted to lights.

Protogynanisa probsti Arabuko Sokoke Forest, southeastern Kenya, courtesy of John Marchant.

Many of the determinations of African species are currently under review, or need to be reviewed. It is my suspicion that many of the determinations within the Epiphora and Gyanisa species will be synonymized within those respective genera. The same may be true of the Imbrasia, Gonimbrasia, Nudaurelia.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

The larvae pupate underground.

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 Gynanisa, but it probaly comes from some combination of the following: "gyn" is a Latin prefix for woman. The Arabic "Anisa" (ah-NEE-sah) means "friendly, congenial." The Hindi "Anisha" means "end of night." "Proto" means "alike". Moths in this genus are very similar to moths in the genus Gynanisa. See comments on that genus.

The species name, probsti, was chosen by Thierry Bouyer "for Helmut Probst, a German entomologist who collected in Eastern Africa, especially in Kenya and Ethiopia." (Thierry Bouyer)

Larval Food Plants

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