315 Genus Mimacraea Butler
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AFROTROPICAL BUTTERFLIES 17th edition (2018). MARK C. WILLIAMS. http://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb Genus Mimacraea Butler, [1872] In Butler, [1869-74]. Lepidoptera Exotica, or descriptions and illustrations of exotic lepidoptera 104 (190 pp.). London. Type-species: Mimacraea darwinia Butler, by original designation. The genus Mimacraea belongs to the Family Lycaenidae Leach, 1815; Subfamily Poritiini Doherty, 1886; Tribe Liptenini Röber, 1892. The other genera in the Tribe Liptenini in the Afrotropical Region are Liptena, Obania, Kakumia, Tetrarhanis, Falcuna, Larinopoda, Micropentila, Pseuderesia, Eresina, Eresiomera, Parasiomera, Citrinophila, Argyrocheila, Teriomima, Euthecta, Cnodontes, Baliochila, Eresinopsides, Toxochitona, Toxochitona and Mimeresia. Mimacraea (Acraea Mimic) is a purely Afrotropical genus containing 20 species. Generic revision by Libert, 2000c (Revision du genre Mimacraea Butler avec description de quatre nouvelles especes et deux nouvelles sous-especes: 58 (1-73).) Classification of Mimacraea (Libert, 2000c) M. darwinia group M. darwinia sub-group M. darwinia Butler, [1872] M. apicalis apicalis Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1890] M. apicalis gabonica Libert, 2000 M. neavei Eltringham, 1909 M. maesseni Libert, 2000 M. febe Libert, 2000 M. landbecki sub-group M. landbecki Druce, 1910 M. telloides Schultze, 1923 M. abriana Libert & Collins, 2000 M. charmian group M. charmian sub-group M. charmian Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1890] M. fulvaria fulvaria Aurivillius, 1895 M. fulvaria eltringhami Druce, 1912 M. paragora paragora Rebel, 1911 M. paragora angulata Libert, 2000 M. neurata sub-group M. neurata Hoalland, 1895 M. krausei group M. krausei krausei Dewitz, 1889 M. krausei karschioides Carpenter & Jackson, 1950 M. krausei camerunica Libert, 2000 M. skoptoles group M. skoptoles Druce, 1907 M. gelinia group M. gelinia sub-group M. gelina (Oberthür, 1893) M. gelinia nguru Kielland, 1986 M. gelinia georgia Libert 1& Collins, 2011 M. neokoton Druce, 1907 M. marshalli sub-group *Mimacraea darwinia Butler, [1872] Common Acraea Mimic Mimacraea darwinia Butler, [1872]. In Butler, [1869-74]. Lepidoptera Exotica, or descriptions and illustrations of exotic lepidoptera 104 (190 pp.). London. Mimacraea darwinia Butler, 1872. Libert, 2000c: 20. Mimacraea darwinia Butler, 1872. d’Abrera, 2009: 628. Type locality: “W. Africa?”. Holotype (male) in the Natural History Museum, London. Neallotype (female): Issia, Ivory Coast, VIII 1966 (T.H.E. Jackson); in the M.N.H.N., Paris. Distribution: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana. Distribution: Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana. A record from Kpandu, Volta Region, Ghana (Libert, 2000c) is distrusted by Larsen (2005a). Specific localities: Sierra Leone – Fula Wusu (Libert, 2000c). Liberia – Ganta (Libert, 2000c); Kpaine (Libert, 2000c); Yendamalahun (Libert, 2000c). Ivory Coast – Abengourou (Libert, 2000c); Agboville (Libert, 2000c); Banco (Libert, 2000c); Bayota (Libert, 2000c); Danane (Libert, 2000c); Issia (Libert, 2000c); Tiassale (Libert, 2000c). Ghana – Kibi (Libert, 2000c); Kpandu (Libert, 2000c); Kukurantumi (Libert, 2000c); Kakum (Larsen, 2005a). Habitat: Forest, including well-developed secondary forest (Larsen, 2005a). Habits: Specimens are usually noted circling the trunks of ‘ant-trees’, occasionally perching on dry twigs (Larsen, 2005a). In Kakum Larsen (2005a) found a single tree which harboured a colony over a long period of time. The male is a mimic of Acraea epaea (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. *Mimacraea apicalis Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1890] 2 Central Acraea Mimic Mimacraea apicalis Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1890]. In Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1887-92]. Rhopalocera exotica, being illustrations of new, rare and unfigured species of butterflies 1: 41 (183 pp.). London. Mimacraea apicalis Grose Smith & Kirby, 1890. Libert, 2000c: 21. Mimacraea apicalis Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1889. d’Abrera, 2009: 628. Date erroneous. Mimacraea apicalis. Male, Cameroon. Left – upperside; right – underside. Images courtesy Torben Larsen. Mimacraea apicalis. Female, Camerron. Image courtesy Torben Larsen. Type locality: Cameroon: “Cameroons”. Neotype (male) designated by Libert, 2000c – Mount Febe (1 000 m), Yaounde, Cameroon, 8 December 1983, M. Libert. Distribution: Nigeria, Cameroon [ssp. apicalis – red dots] Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo [ssp. gabonica – green dots] 3 Distribution: Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo. Habits: The male is an accurate mimic of Acraea tellus, while the female appears to be a mimic of Acraea oberthueri (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. Mimacraea apicalis apicalis Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1890] Mimacraea apicalis Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1890]. In Grose-Smith & Kirby, [1887-92]. Rhopalocera exotica, being illustrations of new, rare and unfigured species of butterflies 1: 41 (183 pp.). London. Mimacraea apicalis apicalis Grose Smith & Kirby, 1890. Libert, 2000c: 21. Mimacraea apicalis Grose-Smith & Kirby, 1889. d’Abrera, 2009: 628. Date erroneous. Type locality: Cameroon: “Cameroons”. Distribution: Nigeria, Cameroon. Specific localities: Nigeria – Lokoja (Libert, 2000c); Olle (Libert, 2000c); ; Ubiaga (Libert, 2000c); Umuhaia (Libert, 2000c); Oni Creek east of Lagos (Larsen, 2005a). Cameroon – Bitje (Libert, 2000c). Mimacraea apicalis gabonica Libert, 2000 Mimacraea apicalis gabonica Libert, 2000. Revision du genre Mimacraea Butler avec description de quatre nouvelles especes et deux nouvelles sous-especes: 22 (1-73). Type locality: Congo: Sembe, Souanke district, March 1960 (T.H.E. Jackson). Neallotype (female) – Ketta forest, Ouesso, Congo, April 1960 (T.H.E. Jackson). Holotype (male) and Neallotype (female) in the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi. Distribution: Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo. Specific localities: Equatorial Guinea – Benito (Libert, 2000c). Gabon – Kangwe (Libert, 2000c); Kuilu (Libert, 2000c); Ogowe (Libert, 2000c); Lambarene (Vande weghe, 2010); Lake Azingo (Vande weghe, 2010); Lake Evaro (Vande weghe, 2010); Tchibanga (Vande weghe, 2010); camp Nouna (Vande weghe, 2010). Congo – Sembe (TL); Ketta forest, Ouesso (Libert, 2000c); Odzala (Libert, 2000c). Note: There is a slight possibility that subspecies gabonica may be a distinct species (Larsen, 2005a). *Mimacraea neavei Eltringham, 1909 Mimacraea neavei Eltringham, 1909. Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 45: 172 (172). Mimacraea neavei Eltringham, 1909. Libert, 2000c: 23. Mimacraea neavei Eltringham, 1909. d’Abrera, 2009: 630. Type locality: Cameroon: “Cameroons, W. Africa”. Holotype (male) in Hope Department, Oxford. Neallotype (female) – Mount Febe (1 000 m), Yaounde, Cameroon, 2 October 1983, M. Libert; M.N.H.N., Paris. 4 Distribution: Cameroon. Distribution: Cameroon. Specific localities: Cameroon – Djukun (Schultze, 1912); Yaounde (Libert, 2000c); Limbe (Libert, 2000c); Maan (Libert, 2000c)Yoko (Libert, 2000c); Goyoum (Libert, 2000c). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. flavofasciata Schultze, 1912 (as sp. of Mimacraea). Entomologische Rundschau 29: 50 (49-50). Cameroon: “Djukun (Urwald) Süd-Kamerun”. Synonymized with Mimacraea neavei Eltringham, 1909 by Libert, 2000: 23. *Mimacraea maesseni Libert, 2000 Maessen’s Acraea Mimic Mimacraea maesseni Libert, 2000. Revision du genre Mimacraea Butler avec description de quatre nouvelles especes et deux nouvelles sous-especes: 25 (1-73). Mimacraea maesseni Libert, 2000. d’Abrera, 2009: 630. Mimacraea maesseni. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Biakpa Mountain Paradise, Ghana. 24 November, 2011. J. Dobson. Images M.C.Williams ex Dobson Collection. 5 Mimacraea maesseni. Female, Nigeria. Left – upperside; right – underside. Images courtesy Torben Larsen. Type locality: Ghana: Papase (Th. Maessen). Holotype (male) in the M.N.H.N., Paris. Allotype (female) – Anfoega, Ghana (Th. Maessen); in the M.N.H.N., Paris. Distribution: Ghana (Volta region), Togo, Nigeria (south). Distribution: Ghana (Volta region), Togo, Nigeria (south). Specific localities: Ghana – Papase (TL); Anfoega (Libert, 2000c); Kpandu (Libert, 2000c); Wli Falls (Larsen, 2005a); Kyabobo (Larsen, 2005a). Togo – Kloto (Libert, 2000c); Badou (Libert, 2000c) Nigeria – Oni Creek (Libert, 2000c); Warri (Libert, 2000c); Afikpo (Libert, 2000c). Habitat: Forest. Habits: Relatively common in the Volta Region of Ghana and in Togo but apparently much scarcer in Nigeria (Larsen, 2005a). Larsen (2005a) noted specimens circling the trunks of trees with a diameter of 6-7 cm, occasionally settling on the bark of the tree trunks. They did not fly high up and were confined to the darker parts of the forest. Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. *Mimacraea febe Libert, 2000 Mimacraea febe Libert, 2000. Revision du genre Mimacraea Butler avec description de quatre nouvelles especes et deux nouvelles sous-especes: 26 (1-73). Mimacraea febe Libert, 2000. d’Abrera, 2009: 630. Type locality: Cameroon: Mount Febe (1 000 m), Yaounde, 16 June 1982, M. Libert. In the M.N.H.N., Paris. 6 Distribution: Cameroon. Distribution: Cameroon. Specific localities: Cameroon – Mount Febe (TL). Known only from the type locality. Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. M. landbecki sub-group *Mimacraea landbecki Druce, 1910 Mimacraea landbecki Druce, 1910. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1910: 358 (356-378). Mimacraea landbecki Druce, 1910. Libert, 2000c: 27. Mimacraea landbecki Druce, 1910.