Maltagorea vulpina
Updated as per Bouyer's Catalogue of African Saturniidae, 1999, 2004
Updated as per personal conversation with and images from Rodolphe Rougerie, 2005
Updated as per personal conversation with and images from Thierry Bouyer, May 2006
Updated as per personal communication with Patrick Basquin (Ankarata, 1900m; Ramonema, 1500m); January 26, 2015

Maltagorea vulpina
mal-tuh-GOR-ee-uhMvul-PEEN-uh
(Butler, 1880) (Copaxa)

Maltagorea vulpina male (copyright protected), courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

Maltagorea vulpina vulpina male, Massif Ankaratra, Madagascar,
1900m, 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:

The Maltagorea vulpina moth flies in Madagascar: Betsileo Country, Ankafana; or possibly Central Madagascar, Ankazobe, Tampoketsy (subrufa).

Bouyer equates subrufa with vulpina.

Patrick Basquin confirms the nominate subspecies from Ankaratra 1900m, Ramonema 1500m (Ambositra - South Central), Lakato and Anjozorobe.

Maltagorea vulpina male, courtesy of Thierry Bouyer.

Maltagorea vulpina vulpina male, Massif Ankaratra, Madagascar,
1900m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

Maltagorea vulpina vulpina male, Ramonena, Ambositra, Madagascar,
1500m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Larval host is unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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

Maltagorea vulpina female, courtesy of Thierry Bouyer.

Maltagorea vulpina female (copyright protected), courtesy of Rodolphe Rougerie.

Maltagorea vulpina vulpina female, Massif Ankaratra, Madagascar,
1900m, courtesy of Patrick Basquin.

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Pupation is probably in an underground chamber.

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.



Return to Maltagorea genus

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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 vulpina means "like a fox" and might ?? refer to the colour of this species.

on my home computer only: Maltagoreavulpina.pdf