DISTRIBUTION: The Grey Prince, Orthogonioptilum adiegetum (wingspan: males: 68-77mm; females; larger), inhabits western Cameroon (Buea; NHM) and possibly flies in southeastern Nigeria. Accepting Bouyer's determination that O. neodollmani Darge, 1988, and O. restrictum Darge, 1988 are synonyms, the range would be extended into the northwestern and northeastern Congo: Ouesso (SA#8), northern Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Central African Republic and across Cameroon. Orthogonioptilum adiegetum, courtesy of Ken Thorne.

This is a relatively large, dark species with very falcate forewings. The "windows" are well marked, usually with three or more on the forewing and one or more on the hindwing.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum, Elone, Sud Province, Cameroon,
wingspan 68mm; July, 2006, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum (verso), Elone, Sud Province, Cameroon,
wingspan 68mm; July, 2006, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum restrictum male, Elone, Sud Province, Cameroon,
wingspan 65mm; July, 2006, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner, confirmed by P. Darge.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum restrictum male (verso), Elone, Sud Province, Cameroon,
wingspan 65mm; July, 2006, courtesy of Sebastian Brandner, confirmed by P. Darge.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies in May at elevations of 1200-1300m. Sebastian Brandner also sent me a very nice image of a male collected in Elone (Sud) Cameroon in October 2003 as well as the one collected in July 2006.

Larval hosts are unknown.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum (male), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum (male), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum (male), Cameroon, courtesy of Eric van Schayck. http://www.saturniidae-mundi.de/Oschayck/schayck.htm

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum male, 61mm, Moanda, Hout-Ogooue, Gabon,
March 29, 2014, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert,
(possibly O. a. pseudadiegetum) id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum male (verso), 61mm, Moanda, Hout-Ogooue, Gabon,
March 29, 2014, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert,
(possibly O. a. pseudadiegetum) id and digital repair by Bill Oehlke.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

EGGS, LARVAE, COCOONS AND PUPAE:

Thierry Bouyer indicates O. a. pseudadiegetum is a doubtful subspecies: "O. a. pseudadiegetum is a doubtful subspecies (not verified on series and with contradiction in his [Darge's] description)."

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum pseudadiegetum (nominate O. adiegetum TB) male, Tchimbele, Estuaire, Gabon,
58mm (probably mid 60's in traditional spread position), April 13, 2010, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

Orthogonioptilum adiegetum pseudadiegetum male (verso) (nominate O. adiegetum TB), Tchimbele, Estuaire, Gabon,
58mm (probably mid 60's in traditional spread position), April 13, 2010, courtesy of Jean-Louis Albert.

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.

There are many collectors from different countries whose intonations and accents would be different.

The genus name Orthogonioptilum refers to the nearly right angle at the anal angle of the forewing.

The species name means "indescribable". (Pinhey)