Temnora sardanus
Encyclopedia
Temnora sardanus is a moth
of the Sphingidae
family. It is known from forests and heavy woodland from Sierra Leone
to Congo
and Angola
, then to Zimbabwe
and East Africa.
The length of the forewings is 19-21 mm for males and 23-25 mm for females. The apex of the forewings is acute. The body is dark grey and the thorax has a prominent crest. There is also a dark dorsal spot on the last abdominal segment. The forewings are dark grey with numerous faint, irregular transverse lines. There is a large dark brown triangle with its base resting on the costa and its apex at the tornus. The proximal margin is well defined and somewhat curved and the distal side is straight and diffuse. The hindwings are uniform greyish brown, with a paler spot at tornus. The abdominal tufts are light red. Females have broader, more rounded wings. The ground colour is darker and the dark markings are more diffuse and less distinct.
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 and heavy woodland 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
Congo Basin
The Congo Basin is the sedimentary basin that is the drainage of the Congo River of west equatorial Africa. The basin begins in the highlands of the East African Rift system with input from the Chambeshi River, the Uele and Ubangi Rivers in the upper reaches and the Lualaba River draining wetlands...
and Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
, then to Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and East Africa.
The length of the forewings is 19-21 mm for males and 23-25 mm for females. The apex of the forewings is acute. The body is dark grey and the thorax has a prominent crest. There is also a dark dorsal spot on the last abdominal segment. The forewings are dark grey with numerous faint, irregular transverse lines. There is a large dark brown triangle with its base resting on the costa and its apex at the tornus. The proximal margin is well defined and somewhat curved and the distal side is straight and diffuse. The hindwings are uniform greyish brown, with a paler spot at tornus. The abdominal tufts are light red. Females have broader, more rounded wings. The ground colour is darker and the dark markings are more diffuse and less distinct.
Subspecies
- Temnora sardanus sardanus
- Temnora sardanus canui Darge, 1991 (São Tomé & Princípe)
- Temnora sardanus hirsutus Darge, 2004 (Tanzania)