Neopolyptychus serrator
Encyclopedia
Neopolyptychus serrator is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from forests from the Congo
to Uganda
and western Kenya
. It is also known from Cameroon
.
The wingspan
is 31-39 mm for males and 39-44 mm for females. The forewings of the males are grey, with faint irregular wavy dark lines, a prominent black dot at the base and a round pinkish stigma. The forewings are paler at the apex. The hindwings are grey with a black streak near the inner margin and one or two black spots near the tornus which is strongly produced. Females have a purple-brown head and body. The groundcolour of the forewings is purple-brown, with very faint wavy transverse lines and pinkish mottling. There is a dark brown wedge at the costa, just before the apex. The hindwings are pinkish-brown at the inner margin and the tornus. The remainder is brown and darker than the forewings. The black streak and tornal spots are present, but inconspicuous.
The larvae feed on Maesopsis eminii.
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 forests from the Congo
Republic of the Congo
The Republic of the Congo , sometimes known locally as Congo-Brazzaville, is a state in Central Africa. It is bordered by Gabon, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo , the Angolan exclave province of Cabinda, and the Gulf of Guinea.The region was dominated by...
to 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...
and western 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...
. It is also known from Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 31-39 mm for males and 39-44 mm for females. The forewings of the males are grey, with faint irregular wavy dark lines, a prominent black dot at the base and a round pinkish stigma. The forewings are paler at the apex. The hindwings are grey with a black streak near the inner margin and one or two black spots near the tornus which is strongly produced. Females have a purple-brown head and body. The groundcolour of the forewings is purple-brown, with very faint wavy transverse lines and pinkish mottling. There is a dark brown wedge at the costa, just before the apex. The hindwings are pinkish-brown at the inner margin and the tornus. The remainder is brown and darker than the forewings. The black streak and tornal spots are present, but inconspicuous.
The larvae feed on Maesopsis eminii.