DISTRIBUTION:

Smith's Prince, Goodia (Yatanga) smithi (forewing length: 19-26mm), inhabits Kiu (possibly equals Kiunga) in
coastal Kenya: Nairobi, Isiolo, Mara River, Machakos, Mtito Andei, Moyale, Mandera, Kedai and Mombasa; Ruwenzori,
Uganda: Kacheleba and Bukoba;
Eritra (probably equals Eritrea); possibly ??
Ethiopia: possibly smithi is replaced by Goodia (Yatanga) sicca in southern Ethiopia;
Somalia;
western Tanzania: Ukerewe Island; Kirawira;
Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Goodia (Yatanga) smithi male, Kirawira, western Serengeti, Tanzania, February 22, 2009, courtesy of David Bygott.

According to E. Pinhey (1972) this species has the wider, more rounded forewings typical of kuntzei.

Bouyer, 1999, equates oriens Hampson, 1909, uniformis Joannis, 1913, heptapora Fawcett, 1915, and decolor Le Cerf, 1911, with smithi.

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.

Smith's Prince is a very small moth with a dark and wavy forewing outer line. There is a black crescent in the cell area.

Male wingspan can be less than 50 mm.

Visit Yatanga Comparison plate.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies in February and possibly at other times.

Goodia smithi larval hosts 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.

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.

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

The species name 'smithi' is honourific for Smith.