DISTRIBUTION:

Parusta thelxinoe (wingspan: males: 50-61mm; females: 66-69mm) flies in
Kenya: Kedai (type) and eastern Tanzania according to Thierry Bouyer.

Minetti Robert reports them from a savanna near the West Usambara Mountains, at 475m in Tanzania, taken on October 16, 2004. Insectcollector reports them from Ethiopia.

Visit Parusta Comparison Plate.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Parusta thelxinoe adults probably??? fly in February-March and November (type). Minetti Robert reports them taken in mid October.

Parusta thelxinoe female, 69mm,
on my home computer only.

Parusta thelxinoe female, 66mm,
on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Parusta xanthops has much more white in the post median areas of all wings when compared to the darker, greyer, similar but slightly larger species, Parusta thelxinoe. The prevalence of white in the marginal areas is also evident on the ventral surfaces of both males and females

Parusta xanthops female, verso, on my home computer only.

Parusta thelxinoe male (darker species), verso, on my home computer only.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

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 Parusta might be for the similarity (brown and white) to the genus Usta which means "burnt" in Latin.

The species name "thelxinoe" is named for Thelxinoe the Greek muse and goddess of delight.