Syntherata engaiana
Updated as per Wikispecies, April 14, 2011
Syntherata engaiana
Brechlin, 2010
Syntherata engaiana HT male, west of Wabag, Enga Province, Papua New Guinea,
May 1990, 1600m, on my home computer only.
Syntherata engaiana/okapiana male, Ambua Lodge, east of Tari, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea,
2100m, June-July 2012, courtesy of Shirley Sekarajasingham, tentative id by Bill Oehlke.
I feel the moth image above from Ambua Lodge is more likely a yellower version of Syntherata engaiana than it is of Syntheratas okapiana
primarily because of location. It is actually somewhat intermediate between the holotypes of the two species and might even be something undescribed as the
mountainous terrain with deep ravines and gorges in the highlands seem to isolate Papua New Guinea species. Shirley's images above and below are from
elevations of 2100m which is higher than the thus far known elevations of engaiana or okapiana. The orange moth below is a real ? Bill Oehlke.
Syntherata engaiana/okapiana/undescribed male, Ambua Lodge, east of Tari, Southern Highlands, Papua New Guinea,
2100m, June-July 2012, courtesy of Shirley Sekarajasingham, digital repair and tentative id by Bill Oehlke.
| TAXONOMY:
Superfamily: Bombycoidea, Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Saturniini, Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Genus: Syntherata, Maassen, 1873
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"Waltzing Matilda"
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DISTRIBUTION:
Syntherata engaiana (wingspan: males: 110mm; females: // forewing length: males: 56-57mm; females: larger) flies in
Papua New Guinea: Enga Province, west of Wabag at elevations of 1600m.
This species (at least the type specimen) is heavily marked with brown: the entire median area is almost completely solid brown with a wide, dentate, brown
post median line, a wide, brown subterminal line and a lightly notched brown marginal band, all against a clear yellow ground colour.
FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:
Specimens were collected May 1990 by a local collector. I suspect there are additional flight months.
ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:
Females extend a scent gland from the tip of their abdomens to "call" the males.
Males use their antennae to hone in on the airbourne pheromone.
EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:
White, ovate eggs are deposited in rows of 8-12 on hostplant foliage.
Larvae pupate in
stiff oval cocoons spun up among food-plant or nearby vegetation.
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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