DISTRIBUTION:

Protogynanisa athletoides flies at high altitudes in northern Malawi and Tanzania in Africa.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

I suspect?? flight would be in February-March. Protogynanisa athletoides larval hosts are unknown.

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

These night flying moths pair after dark and both sexes are attracted to lights.

Protogynanisa athletoides (male), Tanzania, courtesy of Eric van Schayck

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

The larvae pupate underground.

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.

I do not know the source of Gynanisa, but it probaly comes from some combination of the following: "gyn" is a Latin prefix for woman. The Arabic "Anisa" (ah-NEE-sah) means "friendly, congenial." The Hindi "Anisha" means "end of night." "Proto" means "alike". Moths in this genus are very similar to moths in the genus Gynanisa. See comments on that genus.

The species name, athletoides, was probably chosen to suggest the similarity to moths in the genus Athletes.

Larval Food Plants

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