Antinephele maculifera
Encyclopedia
Antinephele maculifera is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It was described by Holland in 1889, and is known from Sierra Leone
to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda
. It is also found in Kenya
, Malawi
, Tanzania
and Zimbabwe
. It is known from forests and wooded habitats.
The length of the forewings is 22-24 mm. The head and tegulae are very dark brown. The posterior portion of the thorax and base of the abdomen are pale brown with a prominent dark brown dorsal spot. The rest of the abdomen is bright orange above, shading to light brown on the dorsum. The head and body are whitish below. The forewings are pale pinkish brown mottled with olive and with pinkish, with a number of faint, irregular dark lines. There is a prominent
triangular dark brown spot at the base and two or more conspicuous dark brown spots in the distal part of the wing. The hindwings are uniformly dark brown.
Moth
A moth is an insect closely related to the butterfly, both being of the order Lepidoptera. Moths form the majority of this order; there are thought to be 150,000 to 250,000 different species of moth , with thousands of species yet to be described...
of the Sphingidae
Sphingidae
Sphingidae is a family of moths , commonly known as hawk moths, sphinx moths and hornworms, that includes about 1,200 species . It is best represented in the tropics but there are species in every region . They are moderate to large in size and are distinguished among moths for their rapid,...
family. It was described by Holland in 1889, and is known from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
. It is also found in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
, Tanzania
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. It is known from forests and wooded habitats.
The length of the forewings is 22-24 mm. The head and tegulae are very dark brown. The posterior portion of the thorax and base of the abdomen are pale brown with a prominent dark brown dorsal spot. The rest of the abdomen is bright orange above, shading to light brown on the dorsum. The head and body are whitish below. The forewings are pale pinkish brown mottled with olive and with pinkish, with a number of faint, irregular dark lines. There is a prominent
triangular dark brown spot at the base and two or more conspicuous dark brown spots in the distal part of the wing. The hindwings are uniformly dark brown.