BUTTERFLY NEWS - Metamorphosis
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JULY 2020 EDITION:
ABN 2020 - 4 AFRICAN
(NEWS FROM MAY AND
JUNE)
BUTTERFLY
THE LEPIDOPTERISTS’
SOCIETY OF AFRICA NEWS
LATEST NEWS
Welcome to July’s newsletter!
The lockdown continues…
Despite the recent relaxation of some of the coronavirus restrictions, we – at least those of us who
live in South Africa - missed the latter part of the 2019 – 2020 butterfly season. Nonetheless, news
is still trickling in, both locally and from elsewhere on the continent.
July’s edition contains 95 pages (although this is admittedly padded by the English Naming project
– refer to FEATURES); thanks to everyone who has contributed.
For interest, this is the 24th edition of the newsletter; four years of African Butterfly News! I’ve
produced a graph (below), which indicates the newsletter’s growth from a modest 11 pages in
September 1996 to the 80 to 90 page mark currently.
Corrections
Not one error was reported from May’s newsletter: Thanks Mark Williams and Steve Collins!
1
Books wanted
Marijke de Kock is interested in second hand butterfly books: anything from the African Continent.
Any of Torben Larsen's books would be a high priority. Please contact Marijke if you can help.
dekock.marijke@gmail.com
Books for sale
Carolyn Butler has forwarded photos of
some books (and a few set-butterflies)
that belonged to her, now deceased,
husband. Carolyn now lives in Cape
Town, but spent many years in
DRC/Congo where her husband
collected a few butterflies.
Most of the specimens went to museums, both in SA and in the USA. She has two large full-colour
volumes of Butterflies of the World (in French) and nine large mounted butterflies.
She would like to sell them, or at least find a place where the books and specimens would be
appreciated.
If anyone is interested, please contact Carolyne at cbutler@intermail.co.za
SALCA
The IUCN are uploading the South African SALCA (and SABCA) conservation assessments onto
the IUCN Red List website.
For many of the SALCA authors this entailed another round of checks and corrections, but, thanks
to Silvia Kirkman’s “encouragement” I think we have got through this!
Membership Cards
Membership cards for the 2020 – 2021 season have been
produced and distributed to the various LepSoc Africa branch
chairmen, who will circulate the cards by email. Laminated cards
may be obtained from your respective branch chairman should
you request this, but cards will not be posted except by prior
agreement. If you wish, simply print out the page with your name
on it, cut out your card and get it laminated.
2
The Lockdown Pictures continued…
(Photos from South African gardens prior to 01 June)
Anthene livida livida Myrina silenus ficedula Hypolimnas misippus
Jan Praet Julio Balona Julio Balona
Linden, Gauteng Gauteng Gauteng
Axiocerses tjoane tjoane Charaxes brutus natalensis and Iolaus trimeni
Stephen Ball Hypolimnas misippus. Stephen Ball Stephen Ball
Magaliesberg, Gauteng Magaliesberg, Gauteng Magaliesberg, Gauteng
Hypolimnas misippus Protogoniomorpha anacardii nebulosa Junonia terea elgiva
Jeremy Dobson Steve Woodhall Alicia Culverwell
Bryanston, Gauteng Gillitts, KZN Ballito, KZN
Mylothris agathina agathina Precis archesia archesia Mylothris rueppellii haemus
Elsje Vink Peter Sharland Lourens Erasmus
Grahamstown, E Cape Risidale, Gauteng Muldersdrift, Gauteng
3
Highveld Butterfly Club Photographic Competition (Jeremy Dobson)
Justin Bode and André Coetzer initiated a
photographic competition, which Hermann
Staude and I were asked to judge.
The “competition” was for the best butterfly and
moth photos submitted to the HBC WhatsApp
chat group between 21 March (the start of the
lockdown) and 17 May.
This was the winner in the “Butterfly” category:
an African Blue Pansy (Junonia orithya
madagascariensis), photographed by Tim
Gilbert at his house in Kyasands.
Junonia orithya madagascariensis
Tim Gilbert
I like the picture, not just because it’s a great Gauteng
image of a beautiful butterfly, but also because
you can see the wall of Tim’s house in the
background, which gives it great “Lockdown”
credentials!
While I was responsible for the Papilionoidea,
Hermann Staude had the simple task of
adjudicating entries for the remaining 95% of
Lepidoptera – he chose this photo, which was
submitted by Stephen Ball (the nephew of
Jonathan) who recently joined LepSoc Africa
and who lives in the Hartbeespoort area.
This is the Cream-striped Owl (Cyligramma
latona) a member of the Noctuidae family.
Cyligramma latona
Stephen Ball
Hartbeespoort, Gauteng
4
Molecular phylogeny of Sterrhinae
A multigene phylogenetic study of the Sterrhinae subfamily (Geometridae) was carried out by a
team of researchers including LepSoc Africa members Pasi Sihvonen and Hermann Staude.
The objective of the study was to test current morphology-based hypotheses on phylogeny with
additional material included from further geographical areas and morphologically different
lineages. The computer-generated phylogenetic trees support the hypothesis that Sterrhinae
comprises two major lineages.
Based on the molecular phylogeny and extensive morphological examination, a revised
classification of the worldwide Sterrhinae fauna is presented, which includes about 3000 species,
classified into nine tribes and 97 genera.
The results highlight the compelling need to include more genera from a global perspective in
molecular phylogenetic studies, in order to create a stable global classification for this
subfamily.
Sterrhinae
The phylogenetic positions of Bhagadatta, Kumothales and Harmilla
For a long time the subfamily Limenitidinae was used as a “trash can” taxon for taxa that could not
easily be placed in other subfamilies of the butterfly family Nymphalidae. Recent molecular studies
have defined the subfamily and the latest research has shown that the subfamily can be divided
into seven strongly supported tribes.
Dhungel & Wahlberg (2018) attempted to sample all genera within the Limenitidinae, but they
were unable to sample the genera Kumothales, Harmilla, Euryphurana, Euryphaedra and
Neurosigma.
In this paper, a team of researchers, including Steve Collins, determine the phylogenetic positions
of the genera Bhagadatta, Kumothales and Harmilla based on a multigene dataset. They have
compared the new sequences with the dataset published by Dhungel and Wahlberg and revised
the classification of Limenitidinae accordingly.
Limenitidinae paper
Butterfly armour
Andre Coetzer posted the following article on the HBC WhatsApp Group
Butterfly armour
5
Alan Gardiner’s garden…
LepSoc Africa Limpopo branch chairman, Vaughan Jessnitz has set up a WhatsApp chat group for
Limpopo Branch, similar to what André Coetzer has implemented for the Highveld branch.
Alan Gardiner has posted a few photos on the site, including this amazing picture (bottom left) of a
wasp - a Mud Dauber I think – successfully chasing away a vastly bigger female Boisduval's False
Acraea (Pseudacraea boisduvalii trimenii) which was apparently messing with its lunch.
If you happen to live in the lowveld (Alan lives in Kampersrus in
Limpopo), the effects of the lockdown don’t appear to be nearly as
bleak as they were in Johannesburg...
Size doesn’t matter... Male Pseudacraea boisduvalii trimenii Hypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi
Wasp successfully chasing away a female Alan Gardiner, Kampersrus, Limpopo communally roosting under the leaves of a
Pseudacraea boisduvalii trimenii Dracaena plant.
Alan Gardiner, Kampersrus, Limpopo Alan Gardiner, Kampersrus, Limpopo
Butterfly Migration APP (Gerard Talevera)
Gerard Talevera, a researcher at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology, Barcelona, has developed
a “Butterfly Migration APP”, a phone application that has been built to help citizen scientists
contribute to research on migratory butterflies.
The APP incorporates learning information and the possibility to contribute data for 50 migratory
species worldwide; it is focused on long-term monitoring and the observation of breeding
occurrences, but also allows reports on large migratory movements, observations of territorial
behaviour, transects, and random observations.
http://www.butterflymigration.org/app.html
Gerard hopes that you will be persuaded to get out and make your own contributions! Reports can
be introduced retrospectively too. Hopefully, over the years, this tool will help to get a better
understanding of the migrations of some of these butterflies and to engage many citizen scientists
to get involved.
Please help spread the voice! As Linnaeus once wrote:
“... to resolve this intricate issue [migration], it is essential that many people in various places on
Earth make careful observations and report them to the learned world"
6
Mothing trip to KwaZulu-Natal
(Tony Kingston, Knud Larsen and Alexandre Cipolla)
In mid-February, Knud Larsen from Denmark and Tony Kingston
from the UK flew into Johannesburg together. We hired a Nissan
X-Trail from Europcar in Johannesburg Airport and drove to
Volksrust where we were booked to stay in a lovely place called
Sunbird Cottage. As we were self-catering, we stopped in
Standerton en route to buy some provisions. We made a quick
tour of Pick n Pay, loaded our trolley high and headed back to
the car to leave. We knew roughly where we’d parked, but we
couldn’t find the car! We couldn’t even recall the colour – (we
The view from the terrace of Sunbird
had collected it hurriedly from a very dimly-lit car park at the Cottage
airport and hadn’t taken too much notice of it as we had a long
drive ahead of us.)
We walked around for 10 minutes, getting more and more anxious about all our belongings and
pressing the remote at every X-Trail we saw. Finally, a bemused car park attendant came over
and asked what the problem was. We told him we thought our car had been stolen! He said “No,
it’s that gold coloured KIA over there”. We assured him that we were in an X-Trail, but he kept
insisting so we went over to check. Sure enough, after peering through the darkened windows, we
saw our luggage and realised it was, in fact, our car....
We had been given a different car at the Airport to the one we’d requested and it took us almost
200 km to realise! The attendant thought it was hilarious and said “Sir, I am the one that parked
you!”
Very relieved, we continued our journey and had a wonderful
stay at Sunbird Cottage in Wakkerstroom near to Volksrust. The
place is run by a lovely, helpful lady called Sylvie, who had even
bought a generator for us in advance. We stayed there on two
occasions, on the night of our arrival and then again five days
later, when our fellow traveller Alex Cipolla arrived from Belgium.
The locality offered unsurpassed views of the surrounding
mountains, which included the famous battlefields of Majuba. At
Epichoristodes sp. close to adustana 1630m asl. it was the highest locality we visited during our trip.
(♀ 22mm) a
typical member of the Tortricidae.
The cottage itself is situated at the head of a long and rather
steep ravine. The side slopes are very bushy, but the plain
around the top of the ravine is grassland and partly farmed. It is
a real little oasis of untouched natural vegetation.
We collected using a 250w MV lamp in front of a white sheet and
also used several smaller traps with actinic lamps or tubes. It
was not a particularly rich locality, but some interesting species
turned up.
Before Alex’s arrival, Knud and Tony travelled to eSwatini where
we stayed four nights in Shonalonga Lodge on Dombeya
Wildlife Estate. This was a small, but very rich Nature Reserve
at around 415m asl. It is surrounded by low mountains and has
very varied vegetation with Acacia bush and scattered bigger
trees.
Ancylis falsicoma Meyrick, 1914 Female.
12 mm. Dombeya Wildlife Estate.
7
We found the Lodge itself to be extremely comfortable with a
small pool and all that we could ask for. We were surrounded by
wildlife which seemed quite used to human presence. It is a very
rich locality for moths, with many local species. We collected
each night with a white sheet using 125/250w MV or a UV lamp
with a white sheet as well as using 4 or 5 other traps with which
we tried a variety of different lamps and tubes as well as
different locations that revealed new species every night.
Giraffe checking out the sheet in the
morning....
Platysphinx piabilis ♀ Argema mimosae ♂
Our third locality was Mtunzini Forest Lodge close to the coast and the town of Mtunzini where
we stayed for two nights. The Lodge itself is situated inside the special ecosystem of the Umlazi
Nature Reserve at an elevation of only 12m asl. Between the Lodge and the seashore you can
find sub-tropical seashore vegetation and dune thickets of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt. There is
a wetland zone of saline grassland, mud flats and indigenous Maputaland dune forest. Both the
forest and the dunes were rich in species and Knud collected 42 different species of Tortricidae
including a new species of Childanotinae.
Alexandre in the dunes which bordered River Siyaya between the forest and
the humid coastal forest at Mtunzini the dunes.
8
Selection of moths from Mtunzini.
1: Hippotion celerio
2: Zamarada sp.
3: Problepsis digammata
4: Possibly Noctuidae : Acontia sp. ?
After Mtunzini, we headed north again to Jozini on the Pongolapoort Dam. There we stayed at
Cycad Rock Fishing Lodge close to the Dam wall – Elevation 168m asl. The steep slopes down
to the Dam were covered with Acacia and mixed bush with a low variation of plant species. We
stayed here for three nights. The variation in moth species was not very high, but again, some
interesting ones showed up.
We collected using the usual four traps with various lamps but due to the occasional high winds
we were not able to use the large white sheet; instead, we made a tower using a mosquito net and
wooden poles with an MV lamp inside. We situated this on the access road down to the lodge.
This proved very efficient against the wind and gave the possibility of allowing moths to sit quietly
for our observation.
There was a resident donkey living at the lodge that was very interested in whatever we were
doing. When she wasn’t busy chasing guineafowl, she was usually close by learning about moths!
When we left the place, she raced behind the car almost 2 Kms to the exit gate where we had to
shoo her away so we could leave.
Night view of the dam and the “Tower light” with 125W MV lamp
mosquito net
9
From Cycad we drove down the coast to Durban and then back
north-west to Karkloof Nature Reserve where we spent four very
interesting nights at Rockwood Forest Lodge. The Lodge is
situated in dense, dark, Southern Primary Forest at an elevation
of 1268m asl. It is surrounded, in the southern part, by Midland
sub-escarpment grassland meadows and a huge variation of
plants. This locality had a very high variety of species and by far
the most specimens.
Tony Kingston and Knud Larsen at work,
mounting micro-moths
Cosmetra calliarma (Meyrick, 1909). 19 There were huge migrations of some
Knud and Alex enjoying one of Knud’s Noctuid (Erebidae) species which covered
excellent meals! mm. Endemic for KwaZulu Natal and
Gauteng. From the grassland/meadow the sheets and filled the traps!
area at Karkloof. Tortricidae. Olethrutinae:
Eucosmini.
Some arthropods seen at Karkloof
Nature Reserve.
1: Leucauge festiva
2: Potamonautes sp.
3: Pingasa distensaria
4 : Hopliini sp.
10All in all we had a great trip – Knud found 230 species of
Tortricidae, Tony found 39 species of Sphingidae and Alex 26
species of Lasiocampidae.
Acknowledgements
We would very much like to thank LepSoc Africa for their kind
help and wonderful communication. We would especially like to
thank Kevin Cockburn of the KZN Branch for his kind hospitality
and assistance concerning permits, localities, generator
purchase etc.
We were very happy to have Kevin and his wife Stella visit us for
a pleasant evening at Rockwood Forest Lodge. The fact that
they came armed with biltong and wine made them especially
welcome! This was the road on the edge of the
forest on the day of our departure after
heavy rain all night. The water was 40cms
deep, but we made it without a 4x4!
Some more butterfly pictures from the UK
Chris Dobson has forwarded some recent butterfly pictures,
taken from the southeast of England.
Large Skipper (Ochlodes sylvanus) Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) Dingy Skipper (Erynnis tages)
Box Hill, Surrey Denge Wood, Canterbury Beachy Head, Eastbourne
Chris Dobson Chris Dobson Chris Dobson
Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus) Green Hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)
Fackenden Down, Kent Box Hill, Surrey Marden Meadow, Tonbridge
Chris Dobson Chris Dobson Chris Dobson
11A new locality record for Anthene lindae (Katharina Reddig)
Katharina Reddig, a resident of Swakopmund, Namibia found Witsand Ciliate Blue (Anthene
lindae) at Spitzkoppe on 31 May. Some of you may recall, from November’s newsletter (ABN
2019-6), another report of this butterfly from south of Windhoek. This is Katharina’s story:
‘The area around Spitzkoppe seemed very dry. Not many flowering plants and actually I was at the
point of giving up hope of finding anything. I went to see the one Ficus ilicina where I had
previously always found Namib Fig-tree Blue (Myrina silenus suzannae). Also that tree looked
disappointingly dry... but I could see one or two Figtree blues high up in the branches.
About a hundred metres from that spot I saw a little bit of green
where more rain water must have collected at some stage... and
suddenly there were butterflies. A few flowering plants of
Euphorbia damarensis, Trichodesma africanum and a
Malvaceae seemed to attract every butterfly out of the otherwise
dry area. Lebombo Ciliate Blue (Anthene princeps), Black-
striped Ciliate Blue (Anthene amarah amarah), Topaz Babul
Blue (Azanus jesous), Common Zebra Blue (Leptotes pirithous
pirithous), Pea Blue (Lampides boeticus), Brown Playboy
(Deudorix antalus) several Namib Fig-tree Blue (Myrina silenus suzannae), Dusky Marbled
Sapphire (Stugeta subinfuscata reynoldsi) and lots of Grass Jewel Blue (Chilades trochylus).
I at first thought the Anthene lindae was just another Grass Jewel. Viewing from top you just see
this tiny dark butterfly about the same size as a Chilades trochylus. It was feeding so calmly that I
just had to take a photo... a decision I of course didn't regret once I saw the underside through my
lens. Unfortunately I didn't have a closer look at the Acacia trees to see if there was any butterfly
activity. The Acacias just seemed to be too dry. But I can understand why this tiny Anthene lindae
is easily overlooked.
What I can't understand is why the Anthene princeps was overlooked for so long... or maybe just
not enough people looking for butterflies here in Namibia ? I have found A. princeps at several
different localities now: twice in the Kuiseb, in the Swakop, NE of Rössing mountain, at my home
in Swakopmund and now at Spitzkoppe.’
Myrina silenus suzannae Anthene princeps Borbo borbonica borbonica
Spitzkoppe, Namibia Spitzkoppe, Namibia Spitzkoppe, Namibia
Katharina Reddig Katharina Reddig Katharina Reddig
12Aloeides Project – an introduction to Alan Heath
I’m very happy to announce that Alan Heath, whom you all know, or will have heard of, has made
available to us the considerable number of genitalia dissection images that he has produced over
many years of studying this genus. This is Alan’s story…
I started dissecting genitalia about 50 years ago when I was in
Zambia; I mean butterfly genitalia of course, and the focus was on the
lycaenids. As my guide to technique I relied on an unpublished
account by a Malcolm Mitchell and for reference I had a new copy of
Stempffer’s 1967 Genera of African Lycaenidae. Genitalia have
served as means to separate species for over 100 years,
supplementing reliance on wing markings. Diagnosis was easy for me
at first as I worked my way through the Zambian Iolaus species; the
variation between species of that group was and still is amazing.
Later, in South Africa I was asked to do an analysis of world lycaenids
Jenny and Alan Heath
by Professor Pierce at Harvard. The project was never completed but
I had the privilege of dissecting the genitalia of representative taxa
from all over the world. The different shapes of the various genitalic
components were mind-boggling.
Starting in the Cape of South Africa ~35 years ago I found the genitalia were disappointingly so
similar within each genus; particularly among the subfamily Aphnaeinae, but also among the
Thestor. Differences between sister species were often so tiny they were easily overlooked and in
some groups there were no observable differences at all.
The Aloeides were also found to contain very little variation as also with the Erikssonia that I
consider a candidate subgenus (providing we can get away from “eyeball taxonomy”). Except for
the aedeagus that is sort of tubular, all the other components can usually be flattened to reveal
their true profile and hence making it easier to make comparisons. Without this approach there is a
risk of different profiles from even slightly different perspectives. Many of the differences seen
however, may be natural variation within the taxon and so it is vital to obtain several examples, in
order to assess the natural variance.
The valve plus half the transtilla (semi-membraneous strip joining the valves dorsally) has two
features, one being a transtilla projection which at one end of a continuum, is vestigial and at the
other end is a large triangular projection (and fairly uniform within the thyra group). The other
feature is the shape of the valve apex, although the apex width appears to vary in some taxa.
Compare Erikssonia and A. aranda with any in the thyra group and the extent of this variance can
be seen.
Variations of the furca have not yet been analysed but the shape of the A. molomo molomo furca
stands out in the genus, appearing rather like a Manta ray!
Variations of the uncus have not been analysed much yet, as it often proves difficult to flatten
these in a consistent manner without breakage.
The aedeagus is fairly uniform among the Aloeides and which differs slightly from the Erikssonia
that also seems uniform. The only distinguishing feature is the patterns of tiny teeth either side of
the apex. Again, A. molomo stands out in having the fewest teeth (1–3) at the top of the apex.
There are also other differences in its aedeagus.
13Everting the vesica to determine its full shape is a difficult process and very few examples have
everted to reveal the trunk at its end. I provisionally regard the vesica shape as a uniform feature.
Note that all the photos and drawings I have done represent a work in progress; provisionally
shelved.
Alan Heath
A selection of Alan’s sketches are indicated below:
L,
L, S, Vt U A, F, Vt Vt
Aloeides b amptoni Aloeides b arb arae Aloeides kaplani Aloeides molomo
molomo
Ve
F,
L,
S, A,
Tu, L,
Vt Vt
Vt
Aloeides nollothi Aloeides pallida Aloeides susanae Aloeides trimeni
grandis trimeni
KEY TO ABBREVIATIONS
A AEDEAGUS U UNCUS
Bc BURSA COPULATRIX Ap ANAL PALPS
S SACCUS Va VALVE
Tu TEGUMEN+UNCUS (dorsal view of Vp Ventral plate (female's ventral plate)
uncus+ tegumen) Ve VESICA
F FURCA L LATERAL VIEW (lateral view of
Vt VALVES+TRANSTILLA (dorsal view of armature components without
valves+transtilla) aedeagus)
14Butterfly genitalia (Jeremy Dobson and Alan Heath)
OK, it’s been a quiet couple of months: let’s discuss the comparison of butterfly genitalia as a tool
for taxonomic studies.
Lepidoptera have some of the most complex genital structures in the insect world, with a wide
variety of complex spines, setae (bristles), scales, claspers and tufts in males and different
modifications of a small tube called the ductus bursae in females.
The uniqueness of butterfly genitalia has led to their morphological study becoming one of the
most important keys in taxonomic identification, both at taxa and at family level. Genitalia in the
males and females of any butterfly species are adapted to fit each other like a lock (female) and
key (male). This uniqueness is important, as it prevents cross-specific mating and hybridisation.
Images by Savita Murmure
From a taxonomic perspective, some of the important components of the genital structures are as
follows:
Males
The aedeagus (or penis); the vesica, a sheath through which the aedeagus is extended to
inseminate the female; the uncus, a vaguely crab-shaped component at the end of the anal tube
and two components surrounding the genital assemblage, clasping organs (the valva) and furca
(metafurcasternum).
Females
The component usually used for comparison purposes is the Bursa copulatrix, a complicated
organ that produces enzymes used in breaking down the spermatophore (a casing within which
the male sperm is delivered).
With the advent of DNA analysis, the study of genitalia has become just one of several techniques
used in taxonomy.
WIKIPEDIA
15Let’s look at the genital components of a few Aloeides species, using the images prepared by Alan
Heath. For comparison purposes, I’ve selected aedeagus, uncus and furca, as these are the three
components that we’ve got a reasonably full complement of images for most key species. Where
possible, I’ve selected representatives from each of the species groups (or subgroups) proposed
in May’s newsletter:
ODD RUSSETS
ARANDA GROUP
Aloeides aranda
Aedeagus Uncus
with vesica
ARIDA GROUP
Aloeides arida
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
BARKLYI GROUP
Aloeides barklyi
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
16PLAIN RUSSETS
ALMEIDA GROUP
Aloeides almeida
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
Aloeides susanae
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
Aloeides henningi
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
Aloeides macmasteri
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
17SPECKLED RUSSETS
TRIMENI GROUP
Damarensis Subgroup
Aloeides damarensis damarensis
Aedeagus Furca
Pierus Subgroup
Aloeides pierus
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
Taikosama Subgroup
Aloeides taikosama
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
Trimeni Subgroup
Aloeides trimeni trimeni
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
18PATTERNED RUSSETS
DRYAS GROUP
Caledoni Subgroup
Aloeides caledoni
Aedeagus Uncus
Dryas Subgroup
Aloeides dicksoni
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
Aloeides dryas
Aedeagus Uncus
Aloeides nollothi
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
19Aloeides penningtoni
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
Aloeides simplex
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
Aloeides titei
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
Juana Subgroup
Aloeides lutescens
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
20Aloeides thyra thyra
Aedeagus Uncus
Kaplani Subgroup
Aloeides kaplani
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
Aloeides pallida littoralis
Aedeagus
Vansoni Subgroup
Aloeides bamptoni
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
with vesica
21Aloeides carolynnae carolynnae
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
Aloeides margaretae
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
Aloeides nubilus
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
Aloeides vansoni
Aedeagus Uncus Furca
22An itemised diagnostic checklist for the Wolkberg Russet
(Aloeides stevensoni)
(Etienne Terblanche)
Introduction
Part of the thrill of knowing russets is that they are taxonomically challenging. They sow a beautiful
and relative chaos into our carefully designed system of naming. With the puzzle of identifying the
Wolkberg russet (Aloeides stevensoni) from a new colony still fresh in my mind, I offer an itemised
checklist of its diagnostic features. On the one hand this marks my adventure on the road to
identification and, on the other, it will aid a person who, in future, comes across a colony of these
amazing little insects and hopes to identify them as swiftly and definitively as possible. Without, of
course, denying the pleasure of patient study in wilderness and at home.
The diagnostic features to be discussed are morphological and behavioural. This is not to “knock,”
in any creationist manner, other examinable features such as tracing and comparing DNA
patterns. It is just to acknowledge that, initially, most of us do not have immediate access to the
latter method. We have specimens in front of us after having encountered individuals in the veld,
studied against words and pictures in extant lepidopterist descriptions. I dare to indicate here that
the Wolkberg russet can be identified on this basis, which will be confirmed or denied by DNA
analysis. (The genitalia were already found to be distinct by Tite & Dickson (1975)).
I divide the document as follows:
A/. Diagnostic features
B/. One-page tick list (for printing and use)
C/. Synoptic diagnostic diagram
D/. Intraspecific variations that might constrain identification
E/. Inadvertently/ potentially confusing descriptions and pictures in published
literature
F/. Jeremy Dobson’s guide to russet groups
Published literature indicated as follows:
Tite & Dickson = original description, 1975.
Pennington’s = Pennington et al., 1994
Woodhall = South African butterfly app.
Williams = Afrotropical butterflies, online resource.
A/. Diagnostic features
The first ten features--itemised below--are so distinct as to jump up at the collector. These belong
distinctively to the Wolkberg Russet, certainly within the plain- or almeida group. In the past, some
of these were missed due to a lack of specimens and/ or the very small “base” on which the
species was described, namely two males only.
231. Reduced ladder-like postdiscal band in both sexes (forewing upper side)
Male: Female:
Published literature shows that in other colonies, some specimens are entirely or near-entirely
dark on the upper side, occasionally with pale markings where the postdiscal band occurs.
However, if one has a number of specimens in hand, and both sexes show these “ladders,” one
can be virtually certain, within the plain- or almeida group (and probably beyond), that one is
looking at the Wolkberg russet.
In the majority of specimens of the newly discovered colony used here, size-distribution of the
markings was noticeably constant in this postdiscal band. Below, I number this size-pattern from
the inner margin “up” to the costa:
2. Conspicuous darkness (upper side)
In the present colony, some individuals were brighter. Usually, the upper side was obscure since
the upper side markings were obscure (see D 1 below).
243. Ferruginous colouration (upper side)
This is indeed a unique colour. See pictures below.
4. Constant costal trajectory (forewing)
The squarish aspect of the wings usually ascribed to the species has to do with this feature.
Wolkberg russet: costal trajectory Henning’s russet (A. henningi):
remains constant as it meets the costal trajectory dips as it meets
outer margin the outer margin
255. Small size
Wolkberg russet LEFT Wolkberg russet LEFT Wolkberg russet LEFT &
Transvaal russet (A. dryas) Henning’s russet (A. RIGHT
RIGHT henningi) RIGHT Henning’s russet MIDDLE
Males are in the top part, Males in the top part, females All males. Overall size of
females below. Deliberately, I below. Wolkberg russet smaller.
put in an extremely small Deliberately, I mixed in a
female August Transvaal unique Wonderkloof
russet bottom right—an population of Henning’s
exception. russet, presenting a tiny male
(top right) and a strange
female (third from top,
right)—an exception and
possibly a subspecies,
though this kind of variation
has been known for a while
(Graham Henning, pers.
comm.).
6. Low flight
Usually about half-way up between ankle and knee, viz. about 40 cm.
However, flight level will occasionally be higher.
7. Slow flight
Noticeable in comparison to other russets.
However, individual males in competition will occasionally really whizz across the surface.
8. Restricted colony size
In the case of the colony discussed here, preliminary measurement of around 4 000 m.2
269. Prefers south-facing slopes at higher altitudes
Steep, covered with tussocks, rocks, and proteas. Usually at 1 750 – 1 800 m.
10. Wolkberg distribution
Around Haenertsburg in the Limpopo Province. Restricted to the Wolkberg complex.
This includes the Strydpoortberg stretching westward.
The further diagnostic features itemised below perhaps are not as immediately apparent as the
ones listed above, since the Wolkberg russet shares these with other russets: for instance, the
apical smudge on the hindwing underside occurs in other species of the plain- or almeida group. In
the Wolkberg russet it is usually emphasised because of the understated ground colour, the latter
which is a marked characteristic of this species.
These features are however diagnostically invaluable, especially in tandem with the ten features
listed above.
11. Understated ground colour (hindwing underside)
Figure below: features 11 – 14
12. Contrastive median band (hindwing underside)
In wilderness (veld), this can already be noticed quite distinctly.
13. Noticeable apical smudge (hindwing underside)
Again, striking in the veld.
14. Reduced orange (forewing underside)
Ditto: striking in the veld.
Due of course to a solid band of ground colour along the costa.
I am examining the two features mentioned below: in my case, work in progress. The second of
these I’ve noticed only recently.
[15. Median band relatively basad.]
So far, I’ve seen that Wolkberg russet males’ median bands are closer to the wing base and
further away from the margin than in some specimens of A. henningi. In females, the basad
position of the median band is conspicuous, but perhaps that is true of all russets in the group.
[16. Eyes turn red-brown in collected specimens.]
I don’t have access to a great many russet specimens or species, but have so
far not seen this in another russet. I could be wrong here. Also, would the
change in colour have to do with the use of poison in drawers? Or does it
actually have to do with the Wolkberg russet’s eye structure or composition? Or
both?
27B/. One-page checklist (for printing and use)
FW=forewing HW=hindwing
Up=upper side (dorsal)
Un=underside (ventral)
Feature
Reduced ladder-like postdiscal band in both sexes FW Up
Conspicuous darkness (especially in flight) Up
Ferruginous colouration Up
Constant costal trajectory FW
Small size
Low flight
Slow flight
Restricted colony size
Prefers south-facing grassy slopes at higher altitudes (1 750 – 1 800 metres)
Wolkberg distribution
Understated ground colour HW Un
Contrastive median band HW Un
Noticeable apical smudge HW Un
Reduced orange FW Un
[Median band relatively basad HW Un]
[Eyes turn red-brown in collection]
28C/. Synoptic diagnostic diagram
D/. Intraspecific variations that might constrain identification
1. Obscure- versus brighter individuals (upper side)
These two types of individuals were found in various degrees within the present colony with a view
to ten specimens and several observed individuals. However, it is clear from published literature
(Tite & Dickson, Pennington’s, Woodhall) that, in other colonies, individuals occur that are virtually
entirely dark (upper side) or that show only pale markings (postdiscal band, forewing upper side).
Obscure male Brighter male
Females:
292. Ferruginous- versus ferruginous-to-orange colouration (upper side)
3. Submarginal lunulae versus sprinkling at tornus (upper side)
4. Straw- versus smoky- versus rusty ground colour—males (hindwing underside)
Individuals with rusty ground colour have been rarer in my experience of the present colony so far.
These also have brighter ferruginous-orange markings on the upper side.
A) straw B) smoky C) rusty
A B C
305. Round- versus streaky silver spots (forewing underside)
Isolated variants, perhaps aberrations, see the white spots becoming streaky, an event found
among russets in general.
6. Slow- versus fast flight
Flight slow with a view to other russets.
However, as mentioned (A 6), males in competition will occasionally whizz across the surface
when the sun is out and it’s hot.
7. Low- versus higher flight
As above, individuals such as males in competition will occasionally fly at a level higher above the
surface.
8. Preference for higher- versus lower altitudes
Though two of the known sites, including the newly-discovered one (colony discussed here), lie at
around 1 750 metres and above, the original site, where it is now extinct, lies on 1 550 metres.
E/. Inadvertently/ potentially confusing descriptions and pictures in published literature
I think I might pretty much be the last person to “knock” published literature on butterflies. Turning
the pages of a butterfly book, any butterfly book, gives me the same thrill today as it did when I
was small and full of a sense of magic. I love the texture and smell of the pages. The backs of
books are positively sexy to me. To me, South African butterfly books are unique and special in
the context of our continent. I have a keen sense of respect for the incredible work that our
naturalist forebears have been able to compile around our butterflies.
No, what I’m after here is what could happen to an absolute neophyte eager to see whether he or
she’s found a Wolkberg russet, visiting the pages of published sources, and perhaps getting
bewildered here and there. And is this necessarily a bad thing? It is growth!
Finally, much of the confusion in the literature must have arisen due to the scarcity of specimens.
Tite & Dickson describe the species on the basis of only two male specimens, as mentioned.
Pennington’s and Woodhall pretty much build on this, though more individuals or specimens must
have been involved. Some of the diagnostic features described in (B) above become apparent
with greater force only with more specimens in hand.
1. The upper side is entirely dark?
The “ferrugineus brown wings” are described by Tite & Dickson and no mention is made of a
postdiscal band. (Perhaps they had two particularly dark male specimens to work on.)
The upper side is deep dark brown and the forewing is unmarked in the type specimen according
to Pennington’s. (Further down it does however mention colouration.)
Williams includes specimens with orange colouration but, by the time one reads it, one might be
confused about this feature.
Some of the pictures in the literature may inadvertently confound this confusion:
31Plate 3 of the original description (Tite & Dickson). A.
stevensoni
encircled. Picture quality and perhaps an extremely dark
form
create the impression of an insect without any markings
on the upper side
.
Pictures (Woodhall). The one on the left appears in other contexts. It makes it
seem that the upper side has no markings; perhaps because it is a particularly
melanistic form. Note in the dark specimen on the right that a postdiscal band on
the forewing is there in pale form. Perhaps lack of specimens and only-recent
discoveries of additional sites kept brighter specimens out of the picture. In tandem
with the literature, all of this may lead the neophyte down a false path of thinking
any orange or brightness cancels the prospect of having come across the species.
322. Entirely dark and perhaps extremely pale markings (upper side)?
Upper side in both sexes “almost entirely velvety dark brown with very small paler markings”
according to Woodhall. This is useful, but what if you collected some of those brighter individuals
with bolder ferruginous-to-orange markings? Or even obscure ones (probably predominant within
a colony) with ferruginous markings. The specimen with pale markings is from a different colony:
so far, pale markings have not been found in the present colony, but it is likely.
There is a “slight tinge of ferruginous colouring” on the upper side (Pennington’s). Again, what
about the brighter kind?
3. Only a sprinkling of tawny-orange scales (upper side)?
Sprinkling of ferruginous orange near tornus and sometimes on the rest of the upper side
(Pennington’s); to quote: type specimen, upper side: “a vague patch of tawny-orange scales
visible near the anal-angle” and “some sparse scattering of similar scales elsewhere on the wing.”
In some specimens this is the case, though 1/10 in the case of the present colony so far. However,
some individuals have submarginal lunules as mentioned (in B 3) above.
4. The female shows a broad post-medial stripe (forewing upper side)?
On the female forewing upper side the “orange area [is] reduced to a broad post-medial stripe”
(Pennington’s). The word “broad” is potentially misleading and “stripe” is vague. Some females
have no orange at all in this area, but only very vague ferruginous marks in a tapering pattern, as
indicated above.
5. The apical smudge is rufous-brown (hindwing underside)?
Pennington’s. However, some of these smudges are dull brown to smoky in colour.
6. Markings are black or blackish (hindwing underside)?
Pennington’s. However, the median bands may contain black markings along with brownish
markings in various degrees, and in some individuals there is no black, only darker brownish and
so on. The striking median band results from its thin and dark aspect (not necessarily black)
against an understated ground colour.
7. Flight is either distinctly slow or distinctly fast?
Distinctly slow: Woodhall.
Distinctly fast: Pennington’s.
See (A 6) above.
33F/. Jeremy Dobson’s rough guide to russet groups
Based on a timeous and generous email from Jeremy. More refined versions of these three
groups have been forthcoming from his Aloeides Project but the email, as adapted below, is nifty
for the neophyte or experienced collector--in the veld already and for study at home.
Speckled Plain Patterned
Spotted and gravelly. Uniform, containing a few Zig-zag bands.
freckles. Blotched-crosses.
A. trimeni
A. taikosama Currently restricted to five Most russets.
species:
A. stevensoni A. dentatis
A. susanae A. titei
A. henningi A. oreas
A. macmasteri A. thyra
A. almeida
Though the hindwing
underside of A. aranda is,
strictly speaking, similarly
plain, it is a different insect in
crucial respects.
Literature cited
PRINGLE, E. L. L., HENNING, G. A., and BALL, J. B. 1994. Pennington’s butterflies of southern
Africa (second edition). Cape Town: Struik Winchester.
TITE, G.E. & DICKSON, C.G.C. 1973. Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History)
(Entomology) 29:227-280.
WILLIAMS, M. C. 2019. Afrotropical butterflies. Online resource:
http://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb.
WOODHALL, S. 2019. Butterflies of South Africa. Smartphone application.
The eyes have it
The following article was published in Phys.Org and suggests that eye-spots – a fairly common
feature on the wings of Lepidoptera – may have evolved independently, on several occasions.
Butterfly Eyespots
34Stripe-less Zebras
You may remember, from May’s newsletter, Mark Liptrot’s photo of
a strangely patterned Zebra Blue (Leptotes species). Mark took the
photo – on the right - at Mantenga Nature Reserve, eZulwini.
Mark Williams has subsequently sent me this picture, from
Afrotropical Butterflies, of a similar marked Leptotes, caught by
Johan Greying at Lekgalameetse, Limpopo, which is fairly similar to
Mark Liptrot’s butterfly.
Leptotes
Mantenga, Swaziland
Mark Liptrot
Leptotes species (aberration). Lekgalameetse, Limpopo. Johan Greyling
Virtual BioBash (Steve Woodhall)
Steve represented LepSoc Africa at a recent BioBash Zoom meeting
The recent Zoom meeting on Sunday 14 June arranged by Prof. Les Underhill was great fun. We
had people from as far afield as Nigeria (Abubakar Ringim), Kenya (Laban Njoroge), and
Katharina Reddig from Swakopmund in Namibia. She had some real eyeball scorcher photos -
including Myrina silenus suzannae which I don’t think has been photographed live before, and a
great range extension for Anthene lindae.
We saw some interesting habitats and heard some good stories. It was great to see some old
friends again, like Rick Nuttall. It was also good to be able put faces to names with people like PC
Ferreira and Itxaso Quintana (whose name I’m now able to pronounce!)
I was able to show some photos from my recent ‘mini-BioBash’ which was the first time I’ve got out
into the wild since the lockdown started. I simply shared my photo folder on screen, and was put to
shame by some of the professional powerpoint work on show. Next time I’ll up my game.
There WILL be a ‘next time’. Les has in mind a 'Citizen Scientist Hour', loosely modelled on the
Citizen Scientist Days of yore. His mental picture is four short (10-minute) talks with a bit of time
to chat in between. Another one is planned soon.
Another Virtual BioBash will happen in early July, and Les is looking for suggestions as to how to
scale them up. We tried to let everyone do a ‘show and tell’ last time, so some sort of ‘round robin’
format will probably be needed to ensure everyone gets a chance to shine.
35LepiMAPping in lockdown in KwaZulu-Natal (Les Underhill)
By 10 May 2020, 2,267 KwaZulu-Natal records had been submitted to LepiMAP; all had been
collected during the lockdown period 27 March to 10 May 2020. 18 LepiMAPpers had submitted
records made in this period. They had visited 12 quarter degree grid cells. In contrast, during the
same period in 2019 (ie records made during 27 March 2019 to 10 May 2019, and submitted to
LepiMAP at any time in the year up to 10 May 2020), 1,642 records were submitted. Records were
submitted from 36 grid cells by 26 observers.
In 2019, 11 of the 26 observers (42%) had visited only one grid cell and the remaining 15 visited
between two and five grid cells. In 2020, 15 of the 18 observers (83%) submitted from only one
grid cell, where they were locked down. Two LepiMAPers submitted from two adjacent grid cells.
In each case one of the two grid cells has the bulk of the records. One LepiMAPper was able to
submit from four grid cells. This citizen scientist lives far from the nearest town, so the records look
like they were collected opportunistically on shopping/medical trips. Even so, the overwhelming
bulk of the records were from the “home” grid cell.
This is summarized into this table:
Year Records Grid cells LepiMAPers One grid cell
visited only
2019 1642 36 26 11 (42%)
2020 2267 12 18 15 (83%)
The astonishing things. More records from fewer people in 2020 than in 2019 (more records will
still arrive from other LepiMAPpers). The enormous decrease in coverage, from 36 grid cells to 12
(several LepiMAPpers live in the same grid cell).
36A study in Metamorphosis (Steve Woodhall)
Steve took the following set of pictures, showcasing the metamorphosis of an African Plain Tiger
(Danaus chrysippus orientis) from final instar caterpillar, to a pupa and finally, to an adult butterfly:
37Pseudonymphas
Ernest Pringle and Martin Villett at Rhodes University are looking at the Pseudonympha
swanepoeli / P. varii group.
To give you an idea of what they are up against I’ve attached an assortment of male upper and
underside photos (below):
1 KZN, Drakensberg, Ploughman's Kop 2 Free State, Harrismith, Platberg
3 KZN, Drakensberg, Bushman's Nek 4 Mpumalanga, Dullstroom, Verlorenvallei
5 Mpumalanga, Long Tom Pass, Sterkspruit 6 KZN, Drakensberg, Ploughman's Kop
7 Eastern Cape, Hogsback 8 Mpumalanga, Long Tom Pass, Whiskyspruit
I understand from Neville Curle that he and Alf Curle are also involved with ongoing research into
this group of butterflies.
38Vladimir Nabokov
Vladimir Nabokoa (10 Apr 1899 – 2 July 1977) was a Russian / American
novelist, poet, translator and entomologist. His first nine novels were written in
Russian (1926–38), but he achieved international prominence after he began
writing English prose. Nabokov became an American citizen in 1945.
Nabokov's Lolita (1955) was ranked fourth in the list of the Modern Library 100
Best Novels in 2007; Pale Fire (1962) was ranked 53rd on the same list; and
his memoir, Speak, Memory (1951), was listed eighth on publisher Random
House's list of the 20th century's greatest nonfiction. He was a finalist for the
National Book Award for Fiction seven times.
Nabokov's interest in entomology had been inspired by the books of Maria
Sibylla Merian he had found in the attic of his family's country home in Vyra. Throughout an
extensive career of collecting he never learned to drive a car, and he depended on his wife Véra to
take him to collecting sites. During the 1940’s, as a research fellow in zoology, he was responsible
for organizing the butterfly collection of the Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard
University. His writings in this area were highly technical. This, combined with his specialty in the
relatively unspectacular tribe Polyommatini of the family Lycaenidae, has left this facet of his life
little explored by most admirers of his literary works. He described the Karner Blue (Plebejus
melissa samuelis). The genus Nabokovia was named after him in honour of this work, as were a
number of butterfly and moth species (several species in the genera Madeleinea and Pseudolucia
bear epithets alluding to Nabokov or names from his novels). In 1967, Nabokov commented: "The
pleasures and rewards of literary inspiration are nothing beside the rapture of discovering a new
organ under the microscope or an undescribed species on a mountainside in Iran or Peru. It is not
improbable that had there been no revolution in Russia, I would have devoted myself entirely to
lepidopterology and never written any novels at all."
The palaeontologist and essayist Stephen Jay Gould discussed Nabokov's lepidoptery in his
essay, "No Science Without Fancy, No Art Without Facts: The Lepidoptery of Vladimir Nabokov"
(reprinted in “I Have Landed”). Gould notes that Nabokov was occasionally a scientific "stick-in-
the-mud". For example, Nabokov never accepted that genetics or the counting of chromosomes
could be a valid way to distinguish species of insects, and relied on the traditional (for
lepidopterists) microscopic comparison of their genitalia.
The Harvard Museum of Natural History, which now contains the Museum of Comparative
Zoology, still possesses Nabokov's "genitalia cabinet", where the author stored his collection of
male blue butterfly genitalia. "Nabokov was a serious taxonomist," says museum staff writer
Nancy Pick, author of The Rarest of the Rare: Stories Behind the Treasures at the Harvard
Museum of Natural History. "He actually did quite a good job at distinguishing species that you
would not think were different—by looking at their genitalia under a microscope six hours a day,
seven days a week, until his eyesight was permanently impaired." The rest of his collection, about
4,300 specimens, was given to the Lausanne's Museum of Zoology in Switzerland.
Though his work was not taken seriously by professional lepidopterists during his life, new genetic
research supports Nabokov's hypothesis that a group of butterfly species, called the Polyommatus
blues, came to the New World over the Bering Strait in five waves, eventually reaching Chile
Many of Nabokov's fans have tried to ascribe literary value to his scientific papers, Gould notes.
Conversely, others have claimed that his scientific work enriched his literary output. Rather than
assuming that either side of Nabokov's work caused or stimulated the other, Gould proposes that
both stemmed from Nabokov's love of detail, contemplation, and symmetry.
WIKIPEDIA
39Storage of Lepidoptera collections (Jeremy Dobson)
Due to the lockdown there has been no further progress with this matter, but I’ve retained March’s
article, below, for information.
A reminder that we need to find a storage facility for Lepidoptera specimens. I have had a couple
of discussions with potential sponsors and I’m confident that we will be able to commence with this
project fairly soon, although details of the development still need to be resolved. An architect and a
quantity surveyor are currently - at risk – devolving the scheme a bit further:
1. The minimum requirement is approximately 500 m2 of industrial storage space (enough to
contain about 1 million specimens and twice this with racking), with an office component for
deliveries and sorting and a study and toilet. We would need to appoint a permanent
manager / curator, whose job description would include looking after the specimens, sorting
and cataloguing the collection and coordinating visits by researchers.
2. The ultimate goal would be the construction of a national Butterfly Centre. The ABRI
collection could possibly be purchased and with this and other collections, we would hold
the largest and most comprehensive collection of African Lepidoptera anywhere in the
world.
In addition to the storage component (say 1 500 m2), the Centre could have a public display
area, a bookshop, a photographic gallery and possibly a butterfly flight-house and a
restaurant.
LepSoc Africa Transcribing Project
As above, there has been no further progress in this period; I tried scanning some documents
using OCR software and the results were spectacularly unsuccessful. Note that this is not –
primarily – a data collection exercise, but rather an attempt to recover (in an electronic format)
some history related to Africa’s butterfly pioneers.
The members of LepSoc Africa hold a considerable amount of original letters, notes and other
memorabilia, related to African Lepidoptera and African lepidopterists.
At the suggestion of Silvia Kirkman, I’d like to initiate a formal scanning and archiving project, to
preserve these unique documents. We hope to scan and, using specialized software, transcribe
handwritten notes into editable text. The work will be fully cross-referenced and, once complete,
should become a very interesting and valuable resource. There may be a publishing opportunity in
future.
I appeal for a volunteer to assist with this undertaking: assume at this stage that there will be no
salary, although full recognition will be awarded and all costs will be borne by LSA. Although not
essential, it would probably assist if applicants are reasonably familiar with the scientific names of
South African butterflies.
40UPCOMING EVENTS
Butterfly Events
We are hoping to proceed with LepSoc Africa’s annual conference and AGM, which is scheduled
for 12 and 13 September; the situation will be monitored and you will be advised accordingly.
The venue – the Nestle Centre at Walter Sisulu Botanical gardens, Roodepoort, Johannesburg –
has been booked for the event; many thanks to Christopher Willis and Samantha Hargreaves of
SANBI for their assistance in this regard.
BOOKS
LepSoc Africa Book Stock
LepSoc Africa holds a considerable stock of
Metamorphosis journals and also books, such as The
Emperor Moths of Namibia by Rolf Oberprieler and The
Butterflies of Zambia by A. Heath, M. Newport and D.
Hancock. The above books are on sale for R150 and
R175 respectively.
Please order using the LSA Website
(http://lepsocafrica.org/) as follows:
From the Home page, select the Publications tab
at the top of the page.
Select Shop near the top-right of this page.
Select what you wish to purchase from the numerous books and back-issues of
Metamorphosis contained on this page.
Select the Cart and Checkout tab at the top of the page.
Once you are happy press Go to Checkout, select the delivery method that you require
and Place Order!
41Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa
(Steve Woodhall)
Fully revised, the new edition of Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa
features all of South Africa’s 671 butterfly species. This popular guide
includes newly described species and subspecies, and the most recent
taxonomic changes based on DNA studies.
Butterflies of South Africa
Moths of Africa (Hermann Hacker)
In February 2019 the first volume of the book-series Moths of Africa was
released. The book is a review of the African Boletobiinae and includes
descriptions of 4 genera, 266 species and 7 subspecies new to science.
Compiled, primarily, by Hermann Hacker, the book includes input from
Ralf Fiebig and Dirk Stadie, whom many of you will remember from last
year’s Madagascar Workshop.
It isn’t cheap (€162), but according to Hermann Staude, this book is one
of the most important works on African Lepidoptera to be produced in
recent years.
Moths of Africa
Dragonfly Book
LepSoc Africa members, Michèle and Warwick Tarboton, have
produced an updated edition of their book Dragonflies and
Damselflies of South Africa.
Why not keep an eye out for these amazing insects while you
are in the field? This book is the perfect reference.
Among other outlets, the book may be ordered online from
Macro for R248.
Dragonflies and Damselflies of South Africa
42You can also read
