DISTRIBUTION:

Micragone herilla (wingspan: males: 67mm; females: ) flies in
Sierre Leone: (Penninsular Mountains);
Ivory Coast: Adiopodoumé (March, July, September) Azaguié (February); and
Congo; and probably all countries in between:
? Cameroon ?;
? Nigeria ?;
? Benin ?;
? Ghana;
? Togo ?;
? Liberia: Harbel (RSL);
? Gambia ?;
? Guinea Conakry ?; and
? Guinea ?.

Micragone herilla male, 67mm, Harbel, Liberia, October, 1946,
Cornell University Collection, courtesy of Ryan Saint Laurent

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Specimens have been recorded in Ivory Coast: Adiopodoumé (March, July, September) Azaguié (February), suggesting three or more broods annually. Ryan Saint Laurent reports a specimen from the Cornell University Collection with an October, 1946 label.

Micragone herilla natural larval hosts are unknown, but Kirby Wolfe has successfully reared them on laurel sumac (Malosma (formerly Rhus) laurina).

Philippe Darge indicates they can be reared on Annona species.

Micragone herilla female, Sierra Leone, courtesy/copyright Kirby Wolfe

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Kirby Wolfe indicates at least two larva forms can develop from the same egg batch.

Micragone herilla larva, Sierra Leone, courtesy/copyright Kirby Wolfe

Micragone herilla larva, Sierra Leone, courtesy/copyright Kirby Wolfe

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.

Annona Malosma laurina ......

Annona Laurel sumac

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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.

Micragone comes from the Greek words for a small contest, according to Pinhey.

The reason for the species name, 'herilla', is unknown to me. Pinhey indicates 'herilla' means "little mistress".