DISTRIBUTION: Goodia heirax (wingspan: males: 60-70mm; females: larger) inhabits the Wassaw District, Gold Coast = western Ghana (NHM). SCI reports it in Ivory Coast: Barrage dlAyamé (May), Banco forest (November). Thierry Bouyer confirms it flies in Gabon: (Woleu-Ntem, Estuaire and Ngoonie (ALBCOL)); and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It probably also flies in Cameroon and People's Republic of the Congo and in all those countries between Ghana and Cameroon: Togo, Benin, Nigeria. It also flies in Guinea, at least on Bioko (TB). Note the very produced and narrow forewing apex and the very slightly rounded and produced forewing anal angle. The projections emanating from the submarginal area do not seem to be as elongate as in some other species. Goodia heirax males (right), courtesy of Thierry Bouyer FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS: This moth flies in May and November in Ivory Coast. Host plants are unknown. ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING: Females fly early at night with males on the wing around midnight, the calling time of females. Both sexes come in to lights.

All Leps Barcode of Life indicates specimens taken in western Gabon in Woleu-Ntem, Estuaire and Ngoonie. I suspect it would also be in Moyen-Ogooue, and possibly in other provinces in Gabon.

Goodia hierax male, Gabon, All Leps Barcode of life.

These additional images of Goodia hierax males, from Gabon, courtesy of All Leps Barcode of Life are consistent in their depiction of this species as per the description above. There also seems to be a decided swelling/brightening at the bend of the discal lunule. The lower half of the forewing am line also appears weak as it approaches the midpoint of the inner margin.

EGGS, LARVAE 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.

Use your browser "Back" button to return to the previous page.

Return to Goodia Index

Return to Main Index

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.

Goodia might?? be honourific for botanist Peter Good or collector A. I. Good.

The species name 'hierax' might be from Hierax or Hieracus, an Egyptian ascetic of the third century. He was a leader of an ascetic society which required celibacy of its members. Some people have reported that Goodia species can reproduce parthenogenically (without pairing). I do not know if the species name is linked to the above.