DISTRIBUTION:

Syntherata okapiana (wingspan: males: 111mm; females: probably larger // forewing length: males: 56mm; females: flies in
Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands Province, Okapa district, at elevations near 1886m.

This moth is very similar to S. papuensis from further to the southeast in Morobe Province, but okapiana has a sharper forewing apex, and larger, more pronounced ocelli on each wing. S. engaiana further to the northwest in Enga Province has a much stronger brown component to the entire median area.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

A single specimen was collected April, 1990. 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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