DISTRIBUTION:

Orthogonioptilum obamba (wingspan: males: 66-69mm; females: 70-75mm) flies in Gabon, western Cameroon, possibly in southwestern Congo (doubtful) and possibly Nigeria (doubtful).

This relatively large species is primarily a pale yellowish-brown with a little olive.

The forewings are moderately falcate. The pm line is well marked on all wings, but the am line is very faint or even non-existent. There are three tiny hyaline points on each wing, sometimes so small as to escape view.

Orthogonioptilum obamba ??, male, 65mm, Cameroon, by Vytautas Visinskas.

Identifying the Orthogonioptilum can be very difficult, but the relatively large moth (listed with wingspan of 65mm) at the top of the page is a good match for Darge's image and description.

Orthogonioptilum obamba ?? male, (67mm) Elone, Cameroon,
courtesy of Sebastian Brandner, id by B. Oehlke

I notice an offset in the transverse lines from the forewing to the hindwing consistent with Darge's image of O. obamba, and he mentions it flies with O. bernaudi which was also taken from the immediate area.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

This moth flies in January, July and October.

Orthogonioptilum obamba larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

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.

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 is probably for the Obamba tribe, one of the four main tribes in Gabon.