Macropoliana ferax
Encyclopedia
Macropoliana ferax is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from highland forests in East Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, Rwanda
, Tanzania
, Kenya
and Malawi
.
The length of the forewings is 45-52 mm. It is very similar to Macropoliana natalensis
, but smaller and darker, particularly in the females. Most have a series of small paired yellow dorsal spots on the abdomen.
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 highland forests in East Africa, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, Rwanda
Rwanda
Rwanda or , officially the Republic of Rwanda , is a country in central and eastern Africa with a population of approximately 11.4 million . Rwanda is located a few degrees south of the Equator, and is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo...
, 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...
, 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...
and 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...
.
The length of the forewings is 45-52 mm. It is very similar to Macropoliana natalensis
Macropoliana natalensis
Macropoliana natalensis is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is known from forests and moist woodland from KwaZulu-Natal to Ethiopia and westwards to Cameroon, Ghana and Sierra Leone....
, but smaller and darker, particularly in the females. Most have a series of small paired yellow dorsal spots on the abdomen.