Batocnema coquerelii is a moth

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 is known from Madagascar

Madagascar

The Republic of Madagascar is an island country located in the Indian Ocean off the southeastern coast of Africa...

, the Aldabra Islands and the Comoro Islands

Comoro Islands

The Comoros Islands form an archipelago of volcanic islands situated off the south-east coast of Africa, to the east of Mozambique and north-west of Madagascar. They are divided between the sovereign state of Comoros and the French overseas department of Mayotte...

.

It is similar to Batocnema africanus

Batocnema africanus

Batocnema africanus is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from open woodland and savanna from north-eastern South Africa to Zimbabwe, Tanzania and the Kenya coast....

, but the general pattern comprises a much better developed series of bands and patches. The forewing upperside has six, rather than two, conspicuous costal patches and stripes, the most apical of which is small, triangular and subapical.

Subspecies

• Batocnema coquerelii coquerelii (Madagascar)
• Batocnema coquerelii aldabrensis - Aurivillius, 1909 (Aldabra Island)
• Batocnema coquerelii anjouanensis - Viette, 1982 (Anjouan)
• Batocnema coquerelii comorana - Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Grande Comore)
• Batocnema coquerelii occidentalis - Griveaud, 1971 (Madagascar)