DISTRIBUTION:

Decachorda orientalis probably flies in eastern Africa: Rhodesia = Zimbabwe.

I have very little information about many of the African species. Distribution/range, flight times, images, etc., would be greatly appreciated.

Send info and/or pictures to oehlkew@islandtelecom.com. Every little bit helps!

Pinhey indicates this moth may be the same as D. aspersa. The top moth, below, was sent to me as D. aspersa; the bottom moth, below, sent as D. pomona, is a better match for Pinhey's description and image of D. aspersa. Much work still needs to be done on this genus.

Decachorda aspersa (male), Rwanda, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.
http://www.saturniidae-mundi.de/Oschayck/schayck.htm

Decachorda pomona (male), Tanzania, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.
http://www.saturniidae-mundi.de/Oschayck/schayck.htm

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth probably flies in December-January, possibly again in April, and possibly inother months.

Decachorda orientalis larvae probably feed on Hyparrhenia.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

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.

Hyparrhenia......

Thatching grass

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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 Decachorda means ten chords and may refer to the number of veins on the forewing.

The species name "orientalis" probably refers to a range in 'eastern' Africa.