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154 Genus Precis Huebner 14th edition (2015). Genus Precis Hübner, 1819 Hübner, 1819 in Hübner, [1816-[1826]. Verzeichniss bekannter Schmettlinge 33 (432 + 72 pp.). Augsburg. Type-species: Papilio octavia Cramer, by subsequent designation (Scudder, 1875. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 10: 256 (91-293).). A purely Afrotropical genus of 16 species, most closely related to the genus Hypolimnas (Wahlberg et al., 2005). Relevant literature: Williams, 2007a [Differentiation from Junonia]. *Precis actia Distant, 1880 Air Commodore Precis actia Distant, 1880 in Godman & Distant, 1880. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1880: 185 (182-185). Precis pelarga actia Distant, 1880. Dickson & Kroon, 1978. Precis actia Distant, 1880. Van Son, 1979. Precis pelarga actia Distant, 1880. Larsen, 1991c: 350. Precis (Precis) actia (Distant, 1880). Pringle et al., 1994: 120. Precis actia. Male, wet season form (Wingspan 43 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside. Maiwale Chowe, Malawi. 28 December 1997. N. Owen-Johnston. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. 1 Precis actia. Male, dry season form. Left – upperside; right – underside. Wingspan: 56mm. Lomagundi Dist., S. Rhod. III.38. R.H.R. Stevenson. (Transvaal Museum – TM3670). Common name: Air Commodore. Type locality: [Tanzania]: “Massasi, East Africa”. Diagnosis: Very similar to Precis pelarga, from which it differs in the squarish post-discal patch in space 3 with the black dot placed in its centre (in pelarga the black dot is placed closer to its distal border) (Kielland, 1990d). The population from Kitesa Forest, Tanzania has white bands (Kielland, 1990d). Distribution: Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo (south), Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya (west), Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia (north), Mozambique (west), Zimbabwe. Specific localities: Kenya – Kitale (Larsen, 1991c); Kakamega Forest (Larsen, 1991c); South Kavirondo (Larsen, 1991c). Tanzania – Massasi (TL); Dar-es-Salaam (Rothschild & Jordan,1903); Mhonda (Suffert, 1904); Kigoma to Tukuyu (Kielland, 1990d); Songea Region (Kielland, 1990d); Masagati Forest (Kielland, 1990d); Pugu Hills (Kielland, 1990d); the Uzungwa Range (Kielland, 1990d); Ukaguru Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Rubeho Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Image Mountain (Kielland, 1990d); Nguru Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Nguu Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Uluguru Mountains (Kielland, 1990d); Mikumi National Park (Kielland, 1990d); Ngorongoro Conservation Area (Kielland, 1990d); Ruaha National Park (Kielland, 1990d); Tabora Region (Kielland, 1990d); Kitesa Forest (Kielland, 1990d). Malawi – Mt Namuli (Congdon et al., 2010). Mozambique – vicinity of Garuso (Pringle et al., 1994); Mt Namuli (Congdon et al., 2010). Zimbabwe – Mazowe Valley (Pringle et al., 1994); Shabani (Pringle et al., 1994); Mutare (Pringle et al., 1994); Burma Valley (Pringle et al., 1994); Mapembi (Pringle et al., 1994); Laurenceville, Vumba (male WSF illustrated above); Lomagundi (male DSF illustrated above). Habitat: Brachystegia woodland and savanna (Kielland, 1990d). Larsen (1991c) states that it occurs in forest. In Tanzania at altitudes from 250 to 2 000 m (Kielland, 1990d). Habits: Both sexes are attracted to flowers (Kielland, 1990d). At Mapembi, in March, fresh specimens of the dry-season form have been noted flying around the base of hills, occasionally feeding from flowers or mud-puddling, while worn specimens of the wet-season form were hilltopping on the same hills (the Cooksons, vide Pringle et al., 1994). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Platostoma species (Lamiaceae) [Heath et al., 2002: 58]. Relevant literature: Richardson, 2013 [Distinction from Precis pelarga]. Note: Larsen (1991) says that actia and pelarga appear to intergrade in Kenya – he suggests that this supports the view that they are subspecies of a single species. 2 vetula Staudinger, 1885 in Staudinger & Schatz, 1884-8 (as sp. of Precis). Exotischer Schmetterlinge 1: 101 (333 pp.). Bayern. [Tanzania]: “Zanzibar”. furcata Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (as f. of Precis pelarga). Novitates Zoologicae 10: 516 (491-542). [Tanzania]: “Dar-es-Salaam”. albofasciata Suffert, 1904 (as ssp. of Precis pelarga). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 17: 108 (108-123). [Tanzania]: “Mhonda, Deusch [sic] - Ost - Africa”. rubrofasciata Suffert, 1904 (as ssp. of Precis actia). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 17: 109 (108- 123). [Tanzania]: “Mhonda”. *Precis andremiaja (Boisduval, 1833) Precis andremiaja. Male upperside (left) and underside (right). Images courtesy Raimund Schutte. Vanessa andremiaja Boisduval, 1833. Nouvelles Annales du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris 2: 193 (149-270). Type locality: Madagascar. Distribution: Madagascar. Specific localities: Madagascar – Perinet Montadia forest and degraded surrounds (R. Schutte, pers. comm. April 2010). Habitat: Occurs on forest margins and in anthropogenic environments (Lees et al., 2003). Habits: A very common resident with a variety of underside cryptic colour schemes. Observed mud puddling and on fresh carnivore dung, as well as fond of garden flowers (R. Schutte, pers. comm. April 2010). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. musa Guérin-Méneville, 1844 (as sp. of Vanessa). Iconographie du règne animal de G. Cuvier. Insectes 474 (576 pp.). Paris. Madagascar. boisduvali Staudinger, 1885 in Staudinger & Schatz, 1884-8 (as sp. of Precis). Exotischer Schmetterlinge 1: 100 (333 pp.). Bayern. Madagascar. 3 *Precis antilope (Feisthamel, 1850)# Darker Commodore Darker Commodore (Precis antilope). Wet season form (left) and dry season form (right). Images courtesy Raimund Schutte. Salamis antilope Feisthamel, 1850. Annales de la Société Entomologique de France (2) 8: 250 (247-262). Precis simia Wallengren, 1857. Trimen & Bowker, 1887a. [Synonym of Precis antilope] Precis antilope Feisthamel. Swanepoel, 1953a. Precis antilope (Feisthamel, 1850). Dickson & Kroon, 1978. Precis (Precis) antilope (Feisthamel, 1850). Pringle et al., 1994: 120. Precis antilope. Male, wet season form (Wingspan 43 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside. Thabazimbi, Limpopo, South Africa. 1 April 2009. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. 4 Precis antilope. Female, wet season form (Wingspan 53 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside. Loding, Mpumalanga, South Africa. 9 February 2010. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. Precis antilope. Male dry season form (Wingspan 53 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside. Thabazimbi, Limpopo Province, South Africa. 27 April 2008. M. Williams. Images M.C. Williams ex Williams Collection. Precis antilope. Female dry season form (Wingspan 58 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside. Thabazimbi, Limpopo Province, South Africa. 27 April 2008. M. Williams. Images M.C. Williams ex Williams Collection. Type locality: Senegal: “Cazamance”. Diagnosis: Similar to Precis cuama but is smaller (Pringle et al., 1994). Distribution: Most of Sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria (south and Cross River loop), Gabon, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia (central and north), South Africa (Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, North West Province, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal), Swaziland. Also in southwestern Arabia (Yemen) (Larsen, 1991c). Specific localities: Senegal – Basse Casamance (TL). Ghana – Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (Larsen et al. 2009). Nigeria – Okwangwo (Larsen, 2005a). Gabon – Ekouyi (van de Weghe, 2010); camp PPG (van de Weghe, 2010); Franceville (van de Weghe, 2010). Uganda – Semuliki N.P. (Davenport & Howard, 1996). Kenya – Widespread (Larsen, 1991c). Tanzania – Widespread (Kielland, 1990d); Mount Longido (Kielland, 1990d); Katavi National Park (Fitzherbert et al., 2006). 5 Zambia – Ikelenge (Heath et al., 2002); Mwinilunga (Heath et al., 2002); Kafue National Park (Heath et al., 2002); Victoria Falls (Heath et al., 2002); Mufulira (Heath et al., 2002); Kalulushi (Heath et al., 2002); Ndola (Heath et al., 2002); Chisamba (Heath et al., 2002); Lusaka (Heath et al., 2002); Luangwa Valley (Heath et al., 2002). Mozambique – Mount Chiperone (Timberlake et al., 2007); Dondo Forest; Mt Namuli (Congdon et al., 2010). Zimbabwe – Umwukwas (male WSF illustrated above). Botswana – Shakawe (Larsen, 1991l); Maun (Larsen, 1991l); Mabele (Larsen, 1991l); Moremi (Larsen, 1991l); Kasane (Larsen, 1991l); Kazungula (Larsen, 1991l); Mpandama-Tenga (Larsen, 1991l); Francistown (Larsen, 1991l); Selibe-Phikwe (Larsen, 1991l); Malahapye (Larsen, 1991l). Namibia – Outjo (Pringle et al., 1994). Limpopo Province – Warmbaths (Swanepoel, 1953); Potgietersrus (Swanepoel, 1953); Polokwane (Swanepoel, 1953); Saltpan (Swanepoel, 1953); Malipsdrift (Swanepoel, 1953); near Gravelotte (Swanepoel, 1953); Thabazimbi (Jeremy and Chris Dobson, April 2006); Soetdoring Farm [- 24.561 28.233] (A. Mayer, pers comm. 2015). Mpumalanga – Lydenburg district (Swanepoel, 1953). North West Province – Brits (Pringle et al., 1994). Gauteng – Pretoria (Swanepoel, 1953; Williams – single record). KwaZulu-Natal – Durban (Trimen & Bowker, 1887). Swaziland – Singceni (Pringle et al., 1994). Habitat: Frost-free savanna and Brachystegia woodland. In Tanzania it is found at altitudes from 300 to 2 000 m (2 600 m on Mount Longido) (Kielland, 1990d). In West Africa it penetrates the forest zone sparingly, especially as probably aestivating dry-season forms (Larsen, 2005a). Habits: A fairly common butterfly (Larsen, 2005a). The flight is relatively
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