335 Genus Neptis Fabricius
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AFROTROPICAL BUTTERFLIES. MARK C. WILLIAMS. http://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb Updated 15 January 2021 Genus Neptis Fabricius, 1807 Sailers In: Illiger, K., Magazin für Insektenkunde 6: 282 (277-289). Type-species: Papilio aceris Esper, by subsequent designation (Crotch, 1872. Cistula Entomologica 1: 66 (59-71).) [extralimital]. = Neptidomima Holland, 1920. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 43: 116, 164 (109-369). Type-species: Neptis exaleuca Karsch, by original designation. Synonyms based on extralimital type-species: Philonoma Billberg; Paraneptis Moore; Kalkasia Moore; Hamadryodes Moore; Bimbisara Moore; Strabrobates Moore; Rasalia Moore; Seokia Sibatani. The genus Neptis belongs to the Family Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815; Subfamily Limenitidinae Behr, 1864; Tribe Neptini Newman, 1870. The other genera in the Tribe Neptini in the Afrotropical Region are Cymothoe and Harma. Neptis (Sailers) is an Old World genus of more than 160 species, 82 of which are Afrotropical. One Afrotropical species extends extralimitally. Neptis livingstonei Suffert, 1904 is declared to be a nomen nudum by Richardson (2019: 103). [Neptis livingstonei Suffert, 1904. Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 17: 126 (124-132). Type locality: [Tanzania]: “Lukuledi. Deutsch-Ost-Africa”. Distribution: Tanzania. Known only from the type specimen from the type locality.] Neptis sextilla Mabille, 1882 is declared to be a nomen nudum by Richardson (2019). [Neptis sextilla Mabille, 1882. Naturaliste 4: 99 (99-100). Type locality: [West Africa?]: “Madagascar”. [False locality?]. Type possibly lost (not found in the NHM, London or MNHN) (Lees et al., 2003). The description suggests that although it may well have been recorded from Madagascar, it is either an aberration or a hybrid between Neptis kikideli and Neptis saclava (Lees et al., 2003). Larsen (2005a: 366) states that sextilla is a re-description of one of the agatha species-group taxa from the African mainland. Distribution: Of doubtful provenance (Ackery et al., 1995: 369).] Relevant references for Neptis: Richardson, 2020 [Two new species]. Richardson, 2019 [Revision of current taxa]. 1 Species groups in the Genus Neptis (after Richardson, 2019; 2020) Agatha group: kiriakoffi, morosopsis, nzedurai, laeta, penningtoni, eltringhami, larseni, serena, jordani, morosa, gratiosa, poultoni, lermanni, nebrodes, jamesoni, rothschildi. Constantiae group: constantiae, katama. Melicerta group: melicerta, agouale, carcassoni, goochii, nicomedes, quintilla, nicobule, nina. Nysiades group: Rogersi sub-group: rogersi, collinsi, seeldrayersi, alta. Clarei sub-group: camarensis, nigra, stellata, viridis, clarei. Nicoteles sub-group: nicoteles, vindo, mixophyes. Continuata sub-group: metanira, continuata,mpassae. Rosa sub-group: rosa Lugubris sub-group: lugubris Biafra sub-group: paula, biafra. Liberti sub-group: liberti. Marci sub-group: marci. Conspicua sub-group: conspicua. Najo sub-group: najo, puella. Strigata sub-group: strigata, lamtoensis. Unplaced taxa: nysiades, amieti, dentifera, carlsbergi, matilei, infusa. Kikideli group: kikideli, trigonophora. Saclava group: frobenia, dumetorum, comorarum, cormilloti, mayottensis, saclava, metella, flavimacula. Nemetes group: nemetes, carpenteri. Woodwardi group: woodwardi, translima, ochracea, mildbraedi. Incongrua group: incongrua, kikuyuensis, aurivillii, neavei, swynnertoni, occidentalis, batesi, exaleuca. 2 Agatha group: kiriakoffi, morosopsis, nzedurai, laeta, penningtoni, eltringhami, larseni, serena, jordani, morosa, gratiosa, poultoni, lermanni, nebrodes, jamesoni, rothschildi. *Neptis kiriakoffi Overlaet, 1955 Orange-antennae Banded Sailer Kiriakoff’s Sailer (Neptis kiriakoffi). Left – Chambishi, Zambia. Right – Black Rock, KwaZulu-Natal. Images courtesy Steve Woodhall (left) and Raimund Schutte (right). Neptis kiriakoffi Overlaet, 1955. Exploration du Parc National de l’Upemba 27: 94 (1-106). Neptis kiriakoffi Overlaet, 1955. Dickson & Kroon, 1978. Neptis kiriakoffi Overlaet, 1955. Pringle et al., 1994: 110. Neptis kiriakoffi. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Kakamega Forest, Kenya. 6 October 1997. Images M.C.Williams ex J. Greyling Collection. 3 Neptis kiriakoffi. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Burma Valley, Vumba, Zimbabwe. 28 March 1997. Images M.C.Williams ex J. Greyling Collection. 4 5 Type locality: [Democratic Republic of Congo]: “Kaswabilenga”. The holotype was captured by G.F. de Witte in the Parc National de l’Upemba in the south of the Democratic Republic of Congo and is in the Musée royal de l’Afrique central, Tervuren, Belgium (Richardson, 2019). Diagnosis: Characterized by the forewing cell on the upperside containing a number of white dots and dashes (Pringle et al., 1994). Close to Neptis laeta but genitalia distinctive (Kielland, 1990d). Neptis kiriakoffi, N. laeta and N. penningtoni form a cryptic triad of species and are very difficult to separate on features of the facies alone (Richardson, 2019). Diagnostic characters of the facies that distinguish kiriakoffi from laeta and penningtoni include: antennae with dorsally orange tips, whitish marking on veins Sc+Rs and white precostal vein (Richardson, 2019). For differention of N. kiriakoffi from N. nzedurai and N. morosopsis see remarks under N. nzedurai. Distribution: Angola (Mendes et al., 2018), Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa (KwaZulu-Natal). Misattributed to the Madagascar fauna by Steele, 1997 (Lees et al., 2003). Misattributed to West Africa by many authors (Richardson, 2020). Specific localities: Democratic Republic of Congo – Kaswabilenga (TL); Ituri Forest (Ducarme, 2018); Semuliki Valley (Ducarme, 2018); Mt Blue (Ducarme, 2018). Uganda – Semuliki N.P. (S. Forbes, pers. comm., 2017). Kenya – Shimba Hills (Sevastopulo, 1974). Tanzania – Widespread but commoner in the western parts (Kielland, 1990d); Katavi National Park (Fitzherbert et al., 2006). Malawi – Nkhorongo near Mzuzu (R. Murphy, vide Richardson, 2019). Zambia – Ikelenge (Heath et al., 2002); Mwinilunga (Heath et al., 2002); Kabompo River (Heath et al., 2002); mid Lunga River (Heath et al., 2002); Mufulira (Heath et al., 2002); Ndola (Heath et al., 2002); Kapiri Mposhi (Heath et al., 2002); Mkushi (Heath et al., 2002); mid- and upper Luangwa Valley (Heath et al., 2002). Mozambique – Amatongas (Pringle et al., 1994); Dondo. Zimbabwe – Bikita (Pringle et al., 1994); Runde River (Pringle et al., 1994); Nyanyadzi River (Pringle et al., 1994); Mana Pools (Pringle et al., 1994). KwaZulu-Natal – Tembe Elephant Park (Woodhall, 2005: 122). Habitat: Forest and Brachystegia woodland (Kielland, 1990d). In Tanzania it occurs at altitudes from near sea-level to 2 000 m (Kielland, 1990d). Habits: Similar to those evinced by Neptis laeta and Neptis penningtoni (Pringle et al., 1994). Flight period: August to October (in southern Africa). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Acalypha racemosa Baill. (syn. paniculata Miq.) (Euphorbiaceae) [Van Someren, 1974: 321]. Paullinia pinnata L. (Sapindaceae) [Van Someren, 1974: 321]. Pilea usambarensis Engl. var. engleri (Rendle) Friis (Urticaceae) [Van Someren, 1974: 321; as Pilea engleri Rendle]. Pilea usambarensis Engl. (Urticaceae) [Heath et al., 2002: 62]. overlaeti Pennington, 1962 (as sp. of Neptis). Journal of the Entomological Society of Southern Africa 25: 266 (266-286). Mozambique: “Dondo Forest (Cheringoma Distr., Moçambique)”. *Neptis nzedurai Richardson, 2020 Neptis nzedurai Richardson, 2020. Metamorphosis 31 (1): 85 (84-93). Type locality: Cameroon: Ngaoundere, 07°20′N, 13°35′E, 1 000 to 1 200 m. Holotype (male): ii.1989; M. Libert collection. (Richardson, 2020). 6 Diagnosis: Neptis nzedurui and N. morosopsis are very similar in appearance. They can be differentiated in the male by the presence of pale scaling on the basal section of the veins Rs and M1of the hindwing upper side. Both species have noticeably bright and large white markings on the upper side compared with N. kiriakoffi, which is a much duller butterfly in comparison (Richardson, 2020). Etymology: Named for Ms Chinyere Nzeduru who captured the first specimen to be barcoded and designated as a distinct species, Neptis sp. HMF-2011 (Richardson, 2020). Distribution: Gambia, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon. Specific localities: Gambia – 7 km E. Basse (Richardson, 2020). Ghana – Mole (Richardson, 2020); Shai Hills, Volta (Richardson, 2020); Nakpanduri (Richardson, 2020). Nigeria – near Ogbomosho (Richardson, 2020); Kachia (Richardson, 2020). Cameroon – Ngaoundere (TL). Habitat: Guinea savanna (Richardson, 2020). Habits: Nothing published. Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. *Neptis morosopsis Richardson, 2020 Neptis morosopsis Richardson, 2020. Metamorphosis 31 (1): 88 (84-93). Type locality: Democratic Republic of Congo: Nyankunde, 01°25' N, 30°02′ E, 1 200 to 1 300 m. Holotype (female): 08.ii.2016, ABRI leg. (Richardson, 2020). Diagnosis: See remarks under N. nzedurai. Neptis morosa is easily confused with N. morosopsis and the two species fly together in W. Africa and further East to N. DRC and Uganda. Neptis morosa has the distal ends of the discal band markings on the hindwing distinctly rounded, whereas they have flatter ends in both N. nzedurui and N. morosopsis (Richardson, 2020). Etymology: The taxon morosopsis has been chosen for a species with the “appearance of” Neptis morosa, ancient Greek opsis meaning appearance (Richardson, 2020). Distribution: