AFROTROPICAL . MARK C. WILLIAMS. http://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb Updated 30 December 2020.

Genus Larinopoda Butler, 1871 Pierid Buffs

Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1871: 172 (169-173). Type-species: Larinopoda lycaenoides Butler, by monotypy.

The genus Larinopoda belongs to the Family Leach, 1815; Subfamily Doherty, 1886; Tribe Liptenini Röber, 1892. The other genera in the Tribe Liptenini in the Afrotropical Region are Liptena, Obania, Kakumia, Tetrarhanis, Falcuna, Micropentila, Pseuderesia, Eresina, Eresiomera, Parasiomera, Citrinophila, Argyrocheila, Teriomima, Euthecta, Baliochila, Cnodontes, Congdonia, Eresinopsides, Toxochitona, Mimacraea and Mimeresia.

Larinopoda (Pierid Buffs) is a purely Afrotropical genus containing six species. Superficially they resemble Pieridae and were, indeed, placed in that family by Butler when he erected the genus in 1871. In the field, however, they cannot possibly be confused with pierids (Larsen, 2005a). One, or more, species is usually common and evenly widespread in any equatorial forest and they even occur in degraded forest as long as an intact canopy is present (Larsen, 2005a). They are partial to extrafloral nectaries on creepers and often can be found in these situations in groups of up to half a dozen individuals. Roosting, in small clusters, takes place on dry twigs (Larsen, 2005a).

*Larinopoda aspidos Druce, 1890 Nigerian Pierid Blue

Larinopoda aspidos Druce, 1890. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (6) 5: 25 (24-31). Larinopoda aspidos Druce, 1890. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

Type locality: Nigeria: “W. Africa, Lagos”. Distribution: Ghana (Volta Region), Togo, Nigeria (south and Cross River loop). Records from the Ivory Coast (Stempffer, 1966) are misidentifications of Larinopoda eurema (Larsen, 2005a). Specific localities: Nigeria – Lagos (TL); Warri (Grose-Smith, 1898); Benin City (Druce, 1903); Oban Hills (Larsen, 2005a). Habitat: Forest. Habits: Common in the Volta Region of Ghana and in western Nigeria (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published.

latimarginata Grose-Smith, 1898 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Novitates Zoologicae 5: 354 (350-358). Nigeria: “Warri”.

brenda Druce, 1903 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Annals and Magazine of Natural History (7) 11: 69 (69-72). Nigeria: “Benin City”.

*Larinopoda batesi Bethune-Baker, 1926

1 Larinopoda batesi Bethune-Baker, 1926. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (9) 17: 389 (384-402). Larinopoda batesi Bethune-Baker, 1926. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

Type locality: Cameroon: “Bitje, Cameroons”. Distribution: Cameroon. Specific localities: Cameroon – Bitje (TL). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published.

*Larinopoda eurema (Plötz, 1880) Western Pierid Blue

Phytala eurema Plötz, 1880. Stettiner Entomologische Zeitung 41: 199 (189-206). Larinopoda eurema Plötz, 1880. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

Larinopoda eurema. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Banco Forest, Abidjan, Ivory Coast. 21 October 1997. A. Gardiner. Images M. Williams ex Gardiner collection.

Larinopoda eurema. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Bobiri, Ghana. 20 April 2014. A. Gardiner. Images M. Williams ex Gardiner collection.

Larinopoda eurema. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Bobiri, Ghana. 20 April 2014. A. Gardiner.

2 Images M. Williams ex Gardiner collection.

Type locality: Ghana: “Accra”. Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana. Stempffer (1957) erroneously records the species from Congo (Larsen, 2005a). Specific localities: Guinea – Ziama (Safian et al., 2020). Liberia – Wologizi (Safian et al., 2020); Wonegizi (Safian et al., 2020). Ghana – Accra (TL); Bobiri Sanctuary (Larsen et al., 2007). Habitat: Forest, including mature secondary forest (Larsen, 2005a). Habits: A common butterfly with habits like those of Larinopoda lircaea (Larsen, 2005a). Single specimens or small clusters of up to six are often found perching on the ends of twigs, low down, in dense forest (Larsen, 2005a). Specimens are evenly distributed within forests in which they occur (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published.

varipes Kirby, 1887 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Annals and Magazine of Natural History (5) 19: 363 (360- 369). Ghana: “Ashanti”.

libussa Staudinger, 1888. In Staudinger & Schatz, 1884-8 (as sp. of Liptena). Exotischer Schmetterlinge 1: 268 (333 pp.). Bayern. Sierra Leone: “Sierra Leone”.

*Larinopoda lagyra (Hewitson, [1866]) White Pierid Blue

Liptena lagyra Hewitson, [1866]. In: Hewitson, [1862-6]. Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies 3: 120 (124 pp.). London. Larinopoda lagyra Hewitson, 1866. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

Larinopoda lagyra lagyra. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Camp Kombo, Cameroon. 5 May 2019. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

Larinopoda lagyra lagyra. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Camp Kombo, Cameroon. 5 May 2019. J. Dobson. 3 Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

Larinopoda lagyra lagyra. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Ipassa, Ivindo N.P., Gabon. 14 June 2016. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

Type locality: Nigeria: “Old Calabar”. Distribution: Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda. The records from Ivory Coast (Stempffer, 1966) and Ghana (Khune, 1999) are regarded to be erroneous (Larsen, 2005a). Habitat: Forest. Habits: Rare in Nigeria but common in the equatorial zone further east (Larsen, 2005a). The habits are similar to those of other species of Larinopoda (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published.

Larinopoda lagyra lagyra (Hewitson, [1866])

Liptena lagyra Hewitson, [1866]. In: Hewitson, [1862-6]. Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies 3: 120 (124 pp.). London. Larinopoda lagyra lagyra Hewitson, 1866. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

Larinopoda lagyra lagyra. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Camp Kombo, Cameroon. 5 May 2019. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

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Larinopoda lagyra lagyra. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Camp Kombo, Cameroon. 5 May 2019. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

Larinopoda lagyra lagyra. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Ipassa, Ivindo N.P., Gabon. 14 June 2016. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

Type locality: Nigeria: “Old Calabar”. Distribution: Nigeria (Cross River loop), Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko), Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo (Mongala, Uele, North Kivu, Tshuapa, Equateur, Sankuru), Uganda (west – Bwamba Valley). Specific localities: Nigeria – Old Calabar (TL); Oban Hills (Larsen, 2005a). Cameroon – Barombi Station (Staudinger, 1892); Lolodorf (Suffert, 1904); Bitje, Ja River (Druce, 1910). Equatorial Guinea (Bioko) – Caldera de Luba, Bioko (Martin, 2015); Río Riaco (Martin & Cobos, 2016). Gabon – Mboumie (Vande weghe, 2010); Ndjole (Vande weghe, 2010); Waka (Vande weghe, 2010); Lope N.P. (Vande weghe, 2010); Keri (Vande weghe, 2010); camp Nouna (Vande weghe, 2010). Central African Republic – Dzanga (Noss, 1998). Democratic Republic of Congo – Kisangani (TL); Ituri Forest (Ducarme, 2018); Semuliki Valley (Ducarme, 2018); Mt Mitumba (Ducarme, 2018). Uganda – Semuliki N.P. (Davenport & Howard, 1996).

lara Staudinger, 1892 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 4: 218 (215- 223). Cameroon: “Kamerungebiet, sowohl von der Küste (Victoria), wie aus dem Innern (Barombi- Station)”; Gabon: “Gabungebiet”.

emilia Suffert, 1904 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 17: 48 (12-107). Cameroon: “Lolodorf, S.-Camerun”.

gyrala Suffert, 1904 (as ssp. of Larinopoda lagyra). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 17: 49 (12-107). Cameroon: “Lolodorf, Süd-Camerun”.

punctata Druce, 1910 (as ab. of Larinopoda emilia). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1910: 361 (356-378). Cameroon: “Bitje, Ja River, Cameroons 2000 ft”.

deficiens Dufrane, 1953 (as ab. of Larinopoda lagyra emilia). Bulletin et Annales de la Société Royale Entomologique de Belgique 89: 48 (41-57). [Democratic Republic of Congo]: “Kabunga”?

Larinopoda lagyra reducta Berger, 1981

Larinopoda lagyra reducta Berger, 1981. Les Papillons du Zaire 239 (543 pp.). Bruxelles.

5 Larinopoda lagyra reducta Berger, 1981. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

Type locality: [Democratic Republic of Congo]: “Kapanga”. Distribution: Democratic Republic of Congo (Lualaba). Specific localities: Democratic Republic of Congo – Kapanga (TL).

*Larinopoda lircaea (Hewitson, [1866]) Cream Pierid Blue

Liptena lircaea Hewitson, [1866]. In: Hewitson, [1862-6]. Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies 3: 120 (124 pp.). London. Larinopoda lircaea Hewitson, 1866. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

Larinopoda lircaea. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Libreville, Gabon. 15 November 2017. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Larinopoda lircaea. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Libreville, Gabon. 17 November 2017. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Larinopoda lircaea form spuma. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Petit Savanna, Cameroon. 4 May 2019. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

6 Type locality: Nigeria: “Old Calabar”. Distribution: Nigeria (east and Cross River loop), Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (Mayumbe, Mongala, Uele, Tshopo, Tshuapa, Kinshasa), Sudan, Uganda. Specific localities: Nigeria – Old Calabar (TL). Cameroon – Bitje, Ja River (Druce, 1910); Yaounde (Strand, 1914); Bibundi (Strand, 1914); Dengdeng (Gaede, 1916); Korup (Larsen, 2005a). Equatorial Guinea – Alen (Strand, 1914). Gabon – Throughout (Vande weghe, 2010). Central African Republic – Bangasso (Aurivillius, 1896); Dzanga (Noss, 1998). Democratic Republic of Congo – Kisangani (TL); Central Forest Block (Ducarme, 2018). Habitat: Forest. Habits: A common butterfly of the forests, flying about slowly, usually low down (Larsen, 2005a). Specimens settle on dry twigs, often in twos or threes. They are evenly widespread in the forest, indicating that they are not tied to specific ‘ant-trees’. Specimens are attracted to extrafloral nectaries; when ants are present the wings are opened slowly, meeting below the legs, then brought upright rather more quickly (Larsen, 2005a). Larsen (2005a) speculates that this behaviour may be related to pheromone dispersion in butterfly-ant related communication. Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published.

lycaenoides Butler, 1871 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1871: 173 (169-173). “West Africa”.

hermansi Aurivillius, 1896 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Ofversigt af Kongl. Vetenskaps-Akademiens Förhlhandlingar. Stockholm 53: 435 (431-436). [Central African Republic]/[Democratic Republic of Congo]: “Bangasso am oberen Ubangi”.

spuma Druce, 1910 (as sp. of Larinopoda). Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1910: 361 (356-378). Cameroon: “Bitje, Ja River, Cameroons, 2000 ft”. Note: Larsen (2005a) examined material in ABRI and is convinced that this taxon is a valid species; he does not formally remove it from synonymy, however.

alenica Strand, 1914 (as ab. of Larinopoda lircaea). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.12.): 133 (97- 144). Equatorial Guinea: “Span.-Guinea: Alen Benitogebiet”.

alenicola Strand, 1914 (as ab. of Larinopoda lircaea). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.12.): 133 (97- 144). Equatorial Guinea: “Span.-Guinea: Makomo Campogebiet, Alen Benitogebiet”.

benitonis Strand, 1914 (as ab. of Larinopoda lircaea). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.12.): 134 (97- 144). Equatorial Guinea: “Span.-Guinea: Alen Benitogebiet”.

makomensis Strand, 1914 (as ab. of Larinopoda lircaea). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.12.): 134 (97-144). Equatorial Guinea: “Span.-Guinea: Makomo, Campogebiet”.

simekoa Strand, 1914 (as ab. of Larinopoda lircaea). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.12.): 134 (97- 144). Cameroon: “Kamerun: Jaundestation Simekoa”.

bibundica Strand, 1914 (as ab. of Larinopoda lircaea). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.12.): 134 (97- 144). Cameroon: “Kamerun, Bibundi”.

innocentia Gaede, 1916 (as var. of Larynopoda [sic] lircaea). Internationale Entomologische Zeitschrift 9: 111 (105-106, 109-112, 125-126). Cameroon: “Dengdeng, Neu-Kamerun”.

*Larinopoda tera (Hewitson, 1873)

Liptena tera Hewitson, 1873. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 10: 125 (122-125). Larinopoda tera Hewitson, 1873. d’Abrera, 2009: 655.

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Larinopoda tera. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Mabira Forest, Uganda. 15 June 2009. J. Dobson. Images M.C.Williams ex Dobson Collection.

Larinopoda tera. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Ipassa, Ivindo N.P., Gabon. 16 June 2016. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson collection.

Type locality: Gabon: “West Africa (Gaboon)”. Distribution: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (Uele, Ituri, Kivu, Tshuapa, Equateur, Sankuru, Lualaba), Uganda, Kenya (west), Tanzania (west). Specific localities: Gabon – Nyonie (Vande weghe, 2010); Alen Nkoma (Vande weghe, 2010); Ndjole (Vande weghe, 2010); Akaka (Vande weghe, 2010); Waka (Vande weghe, 2010); Lope N.P. (Vande weghe, 2010); Ipassa (Vande weghe, 2010); Kongou (Vande weghe, 2010); Langoue (Vande weghe, 2010); camp Nouna (Vande weghe, 2010); camp PPG (Vande weghe, 2010); Kebiri Forest (Vande weghe, 2010). Democratic Republic of Congo – Kisangani (TL); Ituri Forest (Ducarme, 2018); Semuliki Valley (Ducarme, 2018); Central Forest Block (Ducarme, 2018); Mt Mitumba (Ducarme, 2018); Mt Blue (Ducarme, 2018). Uganda – Semuliki N.P. (Davenport & Howard, 1996); Radio Hill, Mabira Forest (male illustrated above). Kenya – Kakamega Forest (Larsen, 1991c); near Kitale (Larsen, 1991c). Tanzania – Mihumu riverine forests (Kielland, 1990d); Kemfu Forest (Kielland, 1990d); Mugondozi River, Kigoma District (Kielland, 1990d). Habitat: Primary lowland forest. From 800 to 1 000 metres in Tanzania (Kielland, 1990d). Habits: This is an uncommon butterfly (Larsen, 1991c). The flight is weak and specimens flutter about low down in the forest undergrowth, often flying long distances (Kielland, 1990d; Larsen, 1991c). Specimens settle on dry twigs but seem to prefer the unfurling shoots of creepers, such as those of species of Smilax. When perched, the wings are often opened and closed with a deliberate motion, meeting below the body (Larsen, 1991c). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Lichens on tree trunks [Larsen, 1991c].

soyauxii Dewitz, 1879 (as sp. of Liptena). Nova Acta Academiae Caesarea Leopoldino-Carolinae Germanicum Naturae Curiosorum 4 (2): 201 (173-212). “Westafrika”.

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