DISTRIBUTION:

The Maltagorea fusicolor = Tagoropsis subocellata (Butler, 1880) (Copaxa) moth (wingspan: 85-90mm) flies in Batsileo-Land in southern Madagascar: Lakato (1100m); Behenjy (1370m). There are at least four diferent male colour forms, a reddish-brown form, a yellowish-brown form, a greyish tawny-brown form, and a dark brown form.

Maltagorea fusicolor tawny-brown male, Lakato, Madagascar,
1100m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor tawny-brown male, Lakato, Madagascar,
1100m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor dark-brown male, Behenjy, Ambatolampy, Madagascar,
1370m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor yellowish-brown male, Tapia a Behenjy, Ambatolampy, Madagascar,
1370m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor male courtesy of Reinhart Rohrig.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larvae feed upon Aguaria salicifolia (Aguaria).

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 fusicolor female, Behenjy, Ambatolampy, Madagascar,
1370m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor (female), Madagascar, courtesy of Eric van Schayck,
Identification by Thierry Bouyer and Rodolphe Rougerie.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Maltagorea fusicolor first instar, Behenjy, Madagascar,
courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor second instar, Behenjy, Madagascar,
courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor third instar, Behenjy, Madagascar,
courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea fusicolor fifth?/final instar, Behenjy, Madagascar,
courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Researchers looking for cocoons at base of trees in Tapia Forest,
Behenjy, Ambatolampy, Madagascar, 1370m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

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.

Aguaria salicifolia ..... Uapaca bojeri

Aguaria Tapia tree

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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

I do not know the reason for the species name fusicolor.

Voici quelques photos de Maltagorea fuscicolor Mabille Forêt de Tapia à Behenjy 1370m - Ambatolampy - Madagascar Centre Forêt primaire de l'Est - Lakato 1100m La chemille descend pour se chrysalider en terre.