Genus Agyllia Grishin, 2020 - Sandmen - Metamorphosis
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AFROTROPICAL BUTTERFLIES. MARK C. WILLIAMS. http://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb
Updated 11 July 2021
Genus Agyllia Grishin, 2020
Sandmen
In Zhang et al. 2020. Zootaxa 4748 (1): 186 (182-194).
Type-species: Pyrgus agylla Trimen, 1889 [South-African Butterflies: a monograph of the extra-
tropical species 3 Papilionidae and Hesperidae: 286 (438 pp.). London. ], by original designation.
The genus Agyllia belongs to the Family Hesperiidae Latreille, 1809; Subfamily Pyrginae
Burmeister, 1878; Tribe Carcharodini Verity, 1940; Subtribe Carcharodina Verity, 1940. Other
genera of the Subtribe Carcharodina in the Afrotropical Region are Spialia, Ernsta, Gomalia
and Carcharodus.
Agyllia (Sandmen) is an Afrotropical genus of three small skippers. Two of these species are
southern African and the third is a Kenyan endemic. The southern species are found in
grassland and Karoo, while the Kenyan species occurs in dense savanna. They are strongly
attracted to flowers and males are territorial. The flight is fast, buzzing and low down. The
larvae feed on the leaves of plants in the family Malvaceae.
*Agyllia asterodia (Trimen, 1864)#
Star Sandman
Male of the Star Sandman (Agyllia asterodia). Bulwer Mountain, KwaZulu-Natal
Image courtesy Steve Woodhall
Pyrgus asterodia Trimen, 1864. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London (3) 2: 178 (175-180).
Pyrgus asterodia Trimen. Trimen, 1866a.
Pyrgus asterodia Trimen, 1864. Trimen & Bowker, 1889.
Spialia asterodia Trimen. Swanepoel, 1953a.
Spialia asterodia (Trimen, 1864). Dickson & Kroon, 1978.
Spialia asterodia (Trimen, 1864). Pringle et al., 1994: 318.
Agyllia asterodia (Trimen, 1864). Zhang et al., 2020.
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Agyllia asterodia. Male (Wingspan 24 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside.
Hillshaven, Gauteng Province, South Africa. 20 September 2008. J. Dobson.
Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.
Agyllia asterodia. Female (Wingspan 27 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside.
Munnik, Limpopo Province, South Africa. 12 September 2004. J. Dobson.
Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.
Type locality: [South Africa]: “Cape Colony”. Holotype in the Natural History Museum, London.
Diagnosis: Median band on underside of hindwing irregularly edged and parallel to the series of basal
spots (Pringle et al., 1994).
Distribution: Mozambique (south), Zimbabwe, South Africa (Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, North
West Province, Gauteng, Free State Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape
Province, Northern Cape Province), Swaziland, Lesotho.
Specific localities:
Limpopo Province – Haenertsburg (Swanepoel, 1953); Munnik (Swanepoel, 1953); Polokwane
(Swanepoel, 1953); Zoutpansberg (Swanepoel, 1953); Percy Fyfe Nature Reserve (Warren,
1990); Highlands Wilderness (Bode & Bode, unpublished checklist); Soetdoring Farm [-24.561
28.233] (A. Mayer, pers comm. 2015).
Mpumalanga – Barberton (Swanepoel, 1953); Ermelo (Swanepoel, 1953); Lydenburg (Swanepoel,
1953); Graskop (Swanepoel, 1953).
North West Province – Potchefstroom (Swanepoel, 1953).
Gauteng – Johannesburg (Swanepoel, 1953); Pretoria (Swanepoel, 1953).
Free State Province – Rouxville (Swanepoel, 1953); Ladybrand (Swanepoel, 1953); Bethlehem
(Swanepoel, 1953); Bloemfontein (Swanepoel, 1953); Kroonstad (Swanepoel, 1953).
KwaZulu-Natal – Loteni (Swanepoel, 1953); Balgowan (Swanepoel, 1953); Estcourt (Swanepoel,
1953); Ladysmith (Swanepoel, 1953); Vryheid (Swanepoel, 1953).
Eastern Cape Province – Port Elizabeth (Swanepoel, 1953); Grahamstown (Swanepoel, 1953); Cathcart
(Swanepoel, 1953); Dordrecht (Swanepoel, 1953); Burgersdorp (Swanepoel, 1953); Steynsburg
(Swanepoel, 1953).
Western Cape Province – Plettenberg Bay (Trimen); Cape Town (Swanepoel, 1953); Swellendam
(Swanepoel, 1953); Robinson Pass (Van den Berg); Hermanus (Rossouw); Durbanville
(Robertson).
Lesotho – Maseru (Swanepoel, 1953); Mokhotlong (Swanepoel, 1953); Giant’s Castle (Swanepoel,
1953).
Habitat: Grassland and, to a lesser extent, grassy areas in the fynbos, karoo and bushveld. In the
Drakensberg it may be found at altitudes up to 3 000 m (Pringle et al., 1994).
Habits: Very fond of flowers but seldom mud-puddles. Males establish territories in grassy areas and
perch on the ground. Very occasionally they exhibit hilltopping behaviour.
Flight period: August to March (Pringle et al., 1994).
Early stages:
Clark, in Dickson & Kroon, 1978: 230; plate 13 [as Spialia asterodia; recorded from eggs and larvae
from Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape Province].
“Egg: 6 mm diameter by 0,5 mm high; laid singly among young leaf buds. Pale blue-green with fine
white ribbing consisting of 18 to 20 longitudinal ribs, only 8 or 9 of which reach the micropyle. These are crossed
by 20 to 23 fine ribs, in the form of reversed diagonal braces in the spaces between the other ribs, with the
junctions punctuated by white moles. Eggs hatch after some 11 days. The discarded shell is not eaten. Larva: 1st
2
instar 1,25 to 2,75 mm in 18 days; 2 nd instar 2,75 to 4 mm in 12 days; 3 rd instar 4 to 5,5 mm in 12 days; 4 th instar
5,5 to 9 mm in 13 days; 5 th instar 9 to 16 or 17 mm in 21 days. The duration of instars is variable. Like those of
most Spialia the young larva starts feeding on the inner surface of a very young, unfolding leaf; later, it constructs
a purse-like ‘hide-out’ by joining leaves together. With increased growth larger shelters are constructed, the last
generally near the ground. Moulting and pupation take place within these shelters. There are about two to three
broods, the last having long drawn-out instars, and with hibernation during the pupal period, which sometimes
occurs among dead leaves joined together near the roots of the plant. Pupa: 13 mm. Secured by cremastral
hooks to silk on the inner side of the leaves forming a shelter. Emergence takes place after 20 days. Parasites:
Parasitic attack occurs in the larval state, by species of Tachinidae. The larva turns a pale dirty yellow, and the
maggot emerges out of its side. In some cases the latter delays its emergence until its host has pupated. Some 36
hours after emergence the maggot pupates and after a further 12 to 25 days its pupa yields the mature parasite.”
Henning, Henning, Joannou & Woodhall, 1997 (photograph of final instar larva and pupa).
Larval food:
Hermannia comosa Burch. ex DC. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959].
Hermannia cuneifolia Jacq. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Hermannia pollens Eckl. and Zehy.].
Hermannia diffusa L.f. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Hermannia pilosula Harv.].
Hermannia incana Cav. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Hermannia candicans Ait.].
Hibiscus species (Malvaceae) [Dickson & Kroon, 1978: 188].
Pavonia burchellii DC. R.A.Dyer (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Pavonia macrophylla E. Mey. ex
Harv.].
* Agyllia agylla (Trimen, 1889)#
Grassveld Sandman
Grassveld Sandman (Agyllia agylla bamptoni ). Left – male upperside. Left – male underside.
Images courtesy Steve Woodhall.
Pyrgus agylla Trimen, 1889. South-African Butterflies: a monograph of the extra-tropical species 3 Papilionidae and
Hesperidae: 286 (438 pp.). London.
Spialia agylla Trimen. Swanepoel, 1953a.
Spialia agylla (Trimen, 1889). Dickson & Kroon, 1978.
Spialia agylla (Trimen and Bowker, 1889). Pringle et al., 1994: 318.
Agyllia agylla (Trimen, 1889). Zhang et al., 2020.
Agyllia agylla agylla. Male (Wingspan 21 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside.
3
Noupoort, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. 8 December 2005. J. Dobson.
Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.
Agyllia agylla agylla. Female (Wingspan 23 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside.
Noupoort, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. 8 December 2005. J. Dobson.
Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.
Type locality: [South Africa]: “Cape Colony; Eastern Districts, between Somerset East and
Murraysberg, Murraysberg, Hope Town. Griqualand West; Kimberley, between Riet and Modder
Rivers, Vaal River”. Holotype in the Natural History Museum, London.
Original description:
“Exp. al., 10-11.5 lin. Closely allied to P. Asterodia, Trim., but smaller, with the markings of a purer
white, and the discal ones larger; hind-wing with basi-cellular spot distinct and well developed, and submarginal
spots larger. Under side: Hind-wing and apex of fore-wing darker in ground-colour, less strongly tinged with
ochreous-yellow; nervular interruptions of cilia conspicuously black, without admixture of ochreous yellow.
Hind-wing: sub-basal and median white bands much more irregular and denticulate on both edges, and more
sharply defined by darker fuscous edging in parts; - the opposite projections of these bands all but touch each
other in two places, viz., at origin of subcostal and of median nervules respectively; submarginal white spots
enlarged, and near anal angle sometimes partly confluent.”
Diagnosis: Distinguished on the underside of the hindwing by the very irregular band, which at vein 2
almost reaches the basal spots. On the underside of the wings the cilia are conspicuously chequered
(Pringle et al., 1994).
Distribution: Botswana, South Africa, Lesotho.
Habitat: The nominate subspecies is found in grassland and, to a lesser extent, in grassy areas in the
Karoo and Kalahari. Subspecies bamptoni occurs in grassy areas of the succulent karoo in Little
Namaqualand (Pringle et al., 1994).
Habits: The flight is fast and low down, with frequent rests on the ground or low bushes (Pringle et al.,
1994). Flowers are readily visited. Males do not hilltop but do defend territories from perches on the
ground or on stones.
Flight period: August to April for the nominate subspecies and from September to December for
subspecies bamptoni (Pringle et al., 1994).
Early stages:
Clark, in Dickson & Kroon, 1978: 188 [as Spialia agylla bamptoni; Port Nolloth, Northern Cape].
Bampton, in Pringle et al., 1994: 318 [as Spialia agylla bamptoni].
Leaves are partially bound together with silk by the larvae and pupation takes place in the partly open
shelter thus formed.
Henning, Henning, Joannou & Woodhall, 1997: 101 (photograph of final instar larva and pupa).
Larval food:
Hermannia comosa Burch. ex DC. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959].
Hermannia cuneifolia Jacq. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Hermannia pollens Eckl. and Zehy.].
Hermannia diffusa L.f. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Hermannia pilosula Harv.].
Hermannia incana Cav. (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Hermannia candicans Ait.].
Pavonia burchellii DC. R.A.Dyer (Malvaceae) [Murray, 1959; as Pavonia macrophylla E. Mey. ex
Harv.].
4
Agyllia agylla agylla (Trimen, 1889)#
Grassveld Sandman
Pyrgus agylla Trimen, 1889. South-African Butterflies: a monograph of the extra-tropical species 3 Papilionidae and
Hesperidae: 286 (438 pp.). London.
Spialia agylla agylla (Trimen, 1889). Dickson & Kroon, 1978.
Spialia agylla agylla (Trimen and Bowker, 1889). Pringle et al., 1994: 318.
Agyllia agylla agylla (Trimen, 1889). Zhang et al., 2020.
Agyllia agylla agylla. Male (Wingspan 21 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside.
Noupoort, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. 8 December 2005. J. Dobson.
Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.
Agyllia agylla agylla. Female (Wingspan 23 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside.
Noupoort, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. 8 December 2005. J. Dobson.
Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.
Type locality: [South Africa]: “Cape Colony; Eastern Districts, between Somerset East and
Murraysberg, Murraysberg, Hope Town. Giqualand West; Kimberley, between Riet and Modder
Rivers, Vaal River”. Holotype in the Natural History Museum, London.
Distribution: Botswana, South Africa (Mpumalanga, North West Province, Gauteng, Free State
Province, Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape Province, Northern Cape Province), Lesotho (west).
Specific localities:
Botswana – Ghanzi (De Jong, 1978).
Mpumalanga – Standerton (Swanepoel, 1953); Greylingstad (J. Dobson, ABN 2020 no. 2).
Gauteng – Johannesburg (Swanepoel, 1953); Heidelberg (Swanepoel, 1953).
Free State Province – Trompsburg (Swanepoel, 1953); Ladybrand (Swanepoel, 1953); Bloemfontein
(Swanepoel, 1953); Boshof (Swanepoel, 1953); Kroonstad (Swanepoel, 1953); Frankfort
(Swanepoel, 1953); Cyferfontein [-30.3736 25.8131] (R. Griesel, unpublished).
Eastern Cape Province – Somerset East (Trimen, 1889); Port Elizabeth (Swanepoel, 1953); Cradock
(Swanepoel, 1953); Klaarstroom (Swanepoel, 1953); Aberdeen (Swanepoel, 1953); Steynsburg
(Swanepoel, 1953); Burgersdorp (Swanepoel, 1953).
Western Cape Province – Murraysburg (Trimen, 1889).
Northern Cape Province – Hopetown (Trimen, 1889); Kimberley (Trimen, 1889); Noupoort
(Swanepoel, 1953); Hantamsberg (Pringle et al., 1994).
Lesotho – Maseru (Swanepoel, 1953); Leribe (Swanepoel, 1953).
5
Agyllia agylla bamptoni (Vári, 1976)#
Namaqua Grassveld Sandman
Spialia agylla bamptoni Vári, 1976. Annals of the Transvaal Museum 30: 123 (121-144).
Spialia agylla bamptoni Vári, 1976. Dickson & Kroon, 1978.
Spialia agylla bamptoni Vári, 1976. Pringle et al., 1994: 318.
Agyllia agylla bamptoni (Vári, 1976). Zhang et al., 2020.
Agyllia agylla bamptoni. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside.
Hondeklip Bay, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. 4 October 1995. J. Greyling.
Images M.C. Williams ex Greyling Collection.
Type locality: South Africa: “Hondeklipbaai, Namaqualand Distr.”. Holotype (male) in the Transvaal
Museum, Pretoria.
Diagnosis: Distinguished from the nominate subspecies by the much more prominent white spotting,
particularly on the hindwing underside (Pringle et al., 1994).
Distribution: South Africa (Western Cape Province – north, Northern Cape Province – west).
Specific localities:
Western Cape Province – Brand se Baai (Williams, unpub.).
Northern Cape Province – Hondeklip Bay (TL; Bampton); Port Nolloth (Kaplan, vide Dickson &
Kroon, 1978).
* Agyllia kituina (Karsch, 1896)
Kitui Grizzled Skipper
Hesperia kituina Karsch, 1896. Entomologische Nachrichten. Berlin 22: 374 (372-378).
Agyllia kituina. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside.
Kibwezi, Kenya. January 1980. SCC. ABRI-2019-2275.
Images M.C. Williams ex ABRI Collection.
Type locality: [Kenya]: “Sansibargebiete, von Kitui”. According to Cock (2016) Kitui is 180 km east
of Nairobi, Kenya (Karsch, 1896; de Jong, 1978), not Zanzibar as given by Evans (1937).
Distribution: Kenya (north-west, central, east).
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Specific localities:
Kenya – Kitui (TL); Maunga Inkubwa (Butler, 1898); Makardara and Marere Forests, Shimba Hills
(Sevastopulo, 1974; Lukenia Hills (Larsen, 1991c); Umkambani country (Larsen, 1991c);
Kibwezi (Larsen, 1991c); Lokichogio [Logichokio] (Larsen, 1991c); Magadi Road (Cock
2016).
Habitat: Dense savanna (Larsen, 1991c). Dry forest (Cock 2016).
Habits: A widespread but uncommon Kenyan endemic (Larsen, 1991c). Flight rapid, close to the
ground. Periodically rests on low vegetation or feeds from low flowers (Cock, 2016). Cock (2016) has
seen a male use a dried grass inflorescence about 50 cm tall as a perch to defend a territory, returning
for short periods to his perch.
Early stages:
Cock, 2016: 305 [ovum, leaf shelters, larva, pupa, parasitoids]
Larval food:
Hermannia exappendiculata (Mast.) K. Schum. (Malvaceae) [Cock, 2016; Jadini Forest, Diani Beach,
Kenya].
Sida spp. (Malvaceae) [Van Someren, 1974: 325; East Africa].
bettoni Butler, 1898 (as sp. of Pyrgus). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1898: 415
(395-444). Kenya: “Maunga [Maungu] Inkubwa”.
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