DISTRIBUTION:

Usta terpsichore alba flies in Tanzania.

Possibly this moth has been elevated to full species status as Usta alba.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

The Usta terpsichore alba moth probably flies in February-March and probably again in September-October.

Larvae probably prefer Marula ( Sclerocarya birrea) and Corkwoods (Commiphora species), but likely also accept California Peppertree (Schinus molle) and Chinaberry (Melia azedarach).

ECLOSION, SCENTING AND MATING:

Adults pair at night.

EGGS, LARVAE AND PUPAE:

Small eggs are deposited in one cluster on a hostplant twig.

Initially larvae are gregarious but become more and more solitary as they develop.

At pupation time, larvae descend tree trunks to pupate in underground chambers.

Larval Food Plants

It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the possible?? foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Commiphora caryaefolia..... Commiphora woodii Melia azedarach Schinus molle Sclerocarya birrea Sclerocarya caffra

Corkwood Forest Corkwood Chinaberry California peppertree Marula Sclerocarya

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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 Usta means "burnt" in Latin.

The species name "terpsichore" is that of the Greek muse of dancing, Terpsichore.

I suspect the reason for the subspecies name, "alba", is to indicate a relatively "white" subspecies.