Temnora crenulata
Encyclopedia
Temnora crenulata is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from forests from Sierra Leone
to Congo
, Uganda
and western Kenya
, with an isolated population in the Usambara Mountains
of north-eastern Tanzania
.
The length of the forewings is 22-28 mm. The head and body are grey. There is a narrow elevated blackish crest on the head, becoming buff on the thorax. The apex of the forewing is acute. The forewings are grey, mottled and lined with blackish. There is a reddish brown bar running from the middle of the costa which is more clearly defined distally than proximally. The hindwings are dark greyish brown except at tornus and inner margin, where they are grey. There is a series of pinkish-buff spots at the posterior margin of the abdominal sternites and a series of creamy spots at each side. The abdominal tufts are bright red.
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 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 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...
, 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...
, with an isolated population in the Usambara Mountains
Usambara Mountains
The Usambara Mountains are a mountain range in North-East Tanzania, approximately long and ranging from 20 to in width. Mountains in the range rise as high as 8,000 ft ....
of north-eastern 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...
.
The length of the forewings is 22-28 mm. The head and body are grey. There is a narrow elevated blackish crest on the head, becoming buff on the thorax. The apex of the forewing is acute. The forewings are grey, mottled and lined with blackish. There is a reddish brown bar running from the middle of the costa which is more clearly defined distally than proximally. The hindwings are dark greyish brown except at tornus and inner margin, where they are grey. There is a series of pinkish-buff spots at the posterior margin of the abdominal sternites and a series of creamy spots at each side. The abdominal tufts are bright red.
Subspecies
- Temnora crenulata crenulata
- Temnora crenulata obsoleta Darge, 2004 (Tanzania)