Maltagorea altivola
Updated as per Saturnafrica Fascicule #15, Basquin, March, 2013; January 30, 2014
Updated as per personal communication with Patrick Basquin, February 26, 2015; March 18, 2015

Maltagorea altivola
mal-tuh-GOR-ee-uhMal-tih-VOH-luh
Basquin 2013

Maltagorea altivola male, Ambositra S P, Ambatofitorahana, Madagascar,
1700m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea altivola male, Ambositra, Ambatofitorahana SP, Madagascar,
1700m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY:

Superfamily: Bombycoidea Latreille, 1802
Family: Saturniidae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Subfamily: Saturniinae Boisduval, [1837] 1834
Tribe: Urotini, Packard, 1902
Genus: Maltagorea, Bouyer, 1993

MIDI MUSIC

"African Midi Music"

ON.OFF
<bgsound src="Dafrican.mid" LOOP=FOREVER>

DISTRIBUTION:

Maltagorea altivola (wingspan: males: 63-65mm; females: 69-75mm // forewing length: males: 38-40mm; females 45-50mm) flies in
Madagascar: Ambositra, Ambatofiturahana, at elevations near 1750m.

This moth belongs in the rostaingi group.

Visit Maltagorea rostaingi Group Comparison Plate.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Moths are on the wing in April. There are probably additional flight months.

Maltagorea altivola larval hosts are unknown, but many Maltagorea species utilize the tapia tree as a larval host.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Females emit an airbourne pheromone at night and males track the scent with their antennae by flying in a zigzag pattern into the wind.

Maltagorea altivola female, Ambositra S P, Ambatofitourahana, Madagascar,
1700m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea altivola female, Ambositra, Ambatofitorahana SP, Madagascar,
1700m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

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.


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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.

The genus name Maltagorea is a contraction of the Malagassy branch of the Tagoropsis / Pseudantherea group.

Mal from Malagassy Republic (Madagascar);
tago from Tagoropsis:
rea from Pseudantherea

The species name altivola is indicative of presence at relatively high altitudes of 1750m.

Maltagorea altivola HT male, Ambositra S P, Ambatofiturahana, Madagascar,
63mm, April 22, 2001, 1700m, on my home computer only.

Maltagorea altivola HT male, Ambositra S P, Ambatofiturahana, Madagascar,
63mm, April 22, 2001, 1700m, on my home computer only.

Maltagorea altivola AT female, Ambositra S P, Ambatofiturahana, Madagascar,
75mm, April 22, 2001, 1700m, on my home computer only.

Maltagorea altivola AT female (verso), Ambositra S P, Ambatofiturahana, Madagascar,
75mm, April 22, 2001, 1700m, on my home computer only.