Nephele discifera
Encyclopedia
Nephele discifera is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from forests from Liberia
and Ghana
to Congo
and Uganda
.
The length of the forewings is 32-36 mm. It is very similar to Nephele comma
, but always very dark olive brown, all abdominal segments are marked laterally with a minute black stigma and the wings are broader and more rounded. The marginal area of the forewings is as in N. comma, but contrasts with remainder of the wing even more strongly. The typical
form has a large rounded orange-pink spot at the middle of the inner margin of the forewing. Form rattrayi has the pink spot reduced or completely lacking.
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 Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
and Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
to 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...
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...
.
The length of the forewings is 32-36 mm. It is very similar to Nephele comma
Nephele comma
Nephele comma is a moth of the Sphingidae family. It is very common throughout the Ethiopian Region, including Madagascar.The length of the forewings is 32-39 mm and the wingspan is 76-86 mm. It is a very variable species. The body and forewings are dark olive green to reddish-brown and to light...
, but always very dark olive brown, all abdominal segments are marked laterally with a minute black stigma and the wings are broader and more rounded. The marginal area of the forewings is as in N. comma, but contrasts with remainder of the wing even more strongly. The typical
form has a large rounded orange-pink spot at the middle of the inner margin of the forewing. Form rattrayi has the pink spot reduced or completely lacking.