DISTRIBUTION:

Yatanga decolor (wingspan: males: 38mm; females: 40mm), inhabits
Kenya: Kiu (southeast of Nairobi); and
Tanzania.

This moth was sometimes treated as a subspecies of smithi. I have also seen it listed as a synonym of oriens heptapora. I do not know official status as of January 2014, but I think it is probably listed by Darge as a valid species. I think heptapora and oriens are also both listed as valid species, based on DNA barcoding analysis. There is probably little difference in appearance of the various Yatanga species. DNA barcoding analysis may be required to distinguish between them.

Visit Yatanga Comparison plate.

Subgenus Yatanga, Darge, 2008, has been created, and Thierry Bouyer now (2010) recognizes arabica, decolor, oriens and smithi as valid, with uniformis questionable and heptapora a synonym of decolor. Arabica was previously treated as a subspecies of smithi.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably ?? flies in December and February and possibly at other times.

Goodia (Yatanga) decolor larval hosts are unknown.

Goodia (Yatanga) decolor female, 40mm,
on my home computer only.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females fly early at night with males probably ?? on the wing around midnight, the calling time of females. Both sexes come in to lights.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS, AND PUPAE:

Eggs are deposited in small groups of 4-12 on twigs or hostplant leaves. Larvae are solitary feeders.

Larvae descend the foodplant at pupation time and construct a flimsy cocoon in debris at the base of the hostplant.

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 reason for Darge's choice of the genus name of Yatanga in 2008.

The species name decolor might?? be indicative of a lessening of colouration compared to other species in the genus, but I am not at all certain of that.