Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Lepidoptera
- Family: Erebidae
- Subfamily: Arctiinae
- Genus: Eilema
- Species: Eilema viettei
Authority
- Described by Hervé de Toulgoët in 1976.
Synonyms
- No widely recognized synonyms are listed in major lepidopteran databases.
Distribution
- Endemic to Madagascar. Records from the Afromoths online database confirm its presence on the island, primarily in forested habitats.
Etymology
- The specific epithet viettei honors Pierre Viette (1921–2011), a prominent French lepidopterist who extensively studied the moth fauna of Madagascar.
Morphology
- As a member of the genus Eilema, this species exhibits the typical slender body and narrow forewings characteristic of lichen moths. Detailed morphological description (e.g., wing pattern, genitalia structure) is provided in the original description (Toulgoët, 1976) and subsequent taxonomic revisions.
Ecology
- Like other Eilema species, E. viettei is presumed to have larvae that feed on lichens or algae growing on tree bark, although specific host plants have not been documented.
Conservation Status
- No assessment has been made by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The species' restriction to Madagascar suggests that habitat loss could be a potential threat, pending further study.
References
- Toulgoët, H. de (1976). Description of new Arctiinae from Madagascar. Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, 81: 322–333.
- De Prins, J.; De Prins, W. (2023). Eilema viettei Toulgoët, 1976. Afromoths, online database of Afrotropical moth species. Retrieved 2023-11-01.
Note: All information provided is based on published taxonomic literature and reputable entomological databases.
