Genus Telchinia Hübner, [1819] In: Hübner, [1816-[1826]. Verzeichniss bekannter Schmettlinge (2): 27 (432 + 72 pp.). Augsburg. Type species: Papilio serena Fabricius, 1775, by subsequent designation (Scudder, 1875. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 10: 91-293). = Hyalites Doubleday, 1848: 140 (lycia = encedon). = Gnesia Doubleday, 1848: 141 (circeis – so is Hyalites a synonym?). = Pareba Doubleday, 1848: 142 (vesta = issoria). Peneleos Acraea (Telchinia peneleos pelasgius). Image courtesy Jeremy Dobson. Subgenus Telchinia Hübner, [1819] In: Hübner, [1816-[1826]. Verzeichniss bekannter Schmettlinge (2): 27 (432 + 72 pp.). Augsburg. Type species: Papilio serena Fabricius, 1775, by subsequent designation (Scudder, 1875. Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 10: 91-293). An Afrotropical subgenus of 71 species. *Telchinia (Telchinia) acerata (Hewitson, 1874) Small Yellow-banded Acraea Acraea acerata Hewitson, 1874. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (4) 13: 381 (380-383). Acraea acerata Hewitson, 1874. Dickson & Kroon, 1978. Hyalites (Hyalites) acerata (Hewitson, 1874). Pringle et al., 1994: 78. Telchinia acerata (Hewitson, 1874). Silva-Brandao et al., 2008. Telchinia (Telchinia) acerata (Hewitson, 1874). Henning & Williams, 2010: 23. 1 Telchinia acerata. Male (Wingspan 35 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside. Wingspan 35 mm. Mabira Forest, Uganda. 14 June 2009. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. Telchinia acerata. Female (Wingspan 38 mm). Left – upperside; right – underside. Wingspan 38 mm. Mabira Forest, Uganda. 14 June 2009. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. Alternative common name: Falls Acraea. Type locality: [Ghana]: “Between Mansu and the River Prah”. Diagnosis: Both sexes show colour and pattern variation (Kielland, 1990d). Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Angola, Mozambique, Zimbabwe (north-west), Botswana (north), Namibia (north). Specific localities: Ghana – Between Mansu and the River Prah (TL); near Cape Coast (Larsen, 2005a). Benin – Lokoli (Tchibozo et al., 2008). Nigeria – Kaduna (Larsen, 2005a). Niger – Timbuctu (Le Cerf, 1927). Cameroon – Viktorai (Suffert, 1904); Korup (Larsen, 2005a). Gabon – Practically throughout (van de Weghe, 2010). Central African Republic – Dzanga (Noss, 1998). Rwanda – „Mohasi-See‟ (Grunberg, 1911); Kigali (Larsen, 2005a). Kenya – Voi (Le Cerf, 1927); Teita Hills (Le Cerf, 1927); Kibwezi (Larsen, 1991c); Nairobi (Larsen, 1991c). Tanzania – Very common in the western parts; less common in the east and north (Kielland, 1990d); Taveta (Rogenhofer, 1891); „Burigsee‟ (Strand, 1913); Katavi National Park (Fitzherbert et al., 2006). Malawi – Mt Mulanje (Congdon et al., 2010). Zambia – Victoria Falls (Heath et al., 2002); Mufulira (Heath et al., 2002); Mbala (Heath et al., 2002). Mozambique – Posto de Catandica (Pringle et al., 1994). Zimbabwe – Victoria Falls (Carcasson and Mitton); Honde Valley (Chitty); Pungwe Bridge (Paré). Botswana – Shakawe (T. Liversedge vide Pinhey); Kasane (Pinhey); Muhembo (T. Liversedge vide Larsen, 1991l). Namibia – Okavango River, Ovamboland (Van Son, 1963); Kankumba isle (R.D. Stephen; male illustrated above); Rundu (Pennington); Outschi (Pennington); Katima Mulilo (Ficq). Habitat: Mainly in disturbed areas in the forest zone (Larsen, 2005a). Usually near water (Heath et al., 2002) or in riverine bush (Pringle et al., 1994). In Tanzania it is found at altitudes from 800 to 2 000 m (Kielland, 1990d). Habits: Sometimes uncommon but abundant following periodic population irruptions (Larsen, 1991c). The flight is weak and close to the ground (Larsen, 1991c; Pringle et al., 1994). It is a well known pest of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) (Kielland, 1990d; Azeferegne et al., 2001) and may also be a pest on 2 cucurbits (Larsen, 1991c). Migratory behaviour was observed in Kigali, Rwanda by Larsen (1991). Flight period: Probably all year (Van Son, 1963). Early stages: Van Someren & Rogers, 1926: 83. “Eggs are laid in bunches or groups on the underside of the leaves of a species of Solanum. The newly- emerged larva is a greyish yellow or green, becoming pale greenish in the third stage, with the spines of first two and last three segments blackish or brownish; the remainder yellowish; lateral body line yellowish; head brownish with black inverted V in centre. Pupa white or creamy with usual black lines and dots.” Larsen, 1999. [egg]. Jiggins et al., 2003. Eggs are laid in a single layer, with the individual eggs touching one another. The mean clutch size was 165 (n=20). Larval food: Ipomoea asarifolia (Desr.) Roem. & Schult. (Convolvulaceae) [Kielland, 1990d: 149; as Ipomoea repens]. Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. (Convolvulaceae) (sweet potato; exotic) [Van Someren, 1974: 323]. Ipomoea cairica (Convolvulaceae) [Azerefegne & Solbreck, 2010; in captivity]. Ipomoea garckeana Vatke (Convolvulaceae) [Heath et al., 2002: 44; as Ipomoea whytei (= whyteana Rendle)]. Ipomoea obscura (Convolvulaceae) [Azerefegne & Solbreck, 2010; Ethiopia]. Ipomoea species (Convolvulaceae) [Larsen, 2005a; Oban Hills, Nigeria]. Ipomoea tenuirostris (Convolvulaceae) [Azerefegne & Solbreck, 2010; Ethiopia]. Lepistemon owariense (P.Beauv.) Hallier f. (Convolvulaceae) [Pierre & Vuattoux, 1978; Ivory Coast]. Merremia hederacea (Burm.f.) Hallier f. (Convolvulaceae) [Pierre & Vuattoux, 1978; Ivory Coast]. Passiflora species (Passifloraceae) [Ackery et al., 1995]. Solanum species (Solanaceae) [Van Someren & Rogers, 1926: 83]. Vernonia species (Asteraceae) [Ackery et al., 1995]. Zea species ? (Poaceae) [Kielland, 1990d: 149]. vinidia Hewitson, 1874 (as sp. of Acraea). Entomologist’s Monthly Magazine 11: 130 (130-132). Angola. Treated as a synonym of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. tenella Rogenhofer, 1891 (as sp. of Acraea [Telchinia]). Annalen des (K.K.) Naturhistorischen Museums. Wien 6: 457 (455-466). Tanzania: “Taveta”. Treated as a synonym of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. abbotti Holland, 1892 (as sp. of Acraea). Entomologist (Supplement) 25: 89 (89-95). “Eastern Africa”. Treated as a synonym of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009 (and spelt as abbottii). brahmsi Suffert, 1904 (as sp. of Acraea). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 17: 15 (12-107). Cameroon: “Viktoria, Camerun”. Treated as a synonym of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. diavina Suffert, 1904 (as ssp. of Acraea vinidia). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Iris 17: 31 (12-107). Cameroon: “Viktoria, Camerun”. Treated as a synonym of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. pullula Grünberg, 1911 (as sp. of Acraea). Wissenschaftliche Ergibnisse der Deutschen Zentral-Afrika Expedition 1907-1908. 3 (17): 516 (506-560), 4 pls. Leipzig. Rwanda: “Mohasi-See”. Treated as a synonym of acerata by Bernaud, 2009. ruandae Grünberg, 1911 (as ab. of Acraea vinidia). Wissenschaftliche Ergibnisse der Deutschen Zentral- Afrika Expedition 1907-1908. 3 (17): 516 (506-560), 4 pls. Leipzig. Rwanda: “Mohasi-See”. Treated as an aberration of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. burigensis Strand, 1913 (as ab. of Acraea acerata vinidia). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.2.): 171 (171- 175). Tanzania: “Burigsee”. Treated as an aberration of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. 3 alluaudi Le Cerf, 1927 (as f. of Acraea acerata tenella). Encyclopédie Entomologique (B. 3. Lepidoptera) 2: 53 (44-58). Kenya: “Voï, Monts Taita, Est africain britannique”. Treated as an aberration of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. hoursti Le Cerf, 1927 (as ssp. of Acraea acerata). Encyclopédie Entomologique (B. 3. Lepidoptera) 2: 54 (44-58). Niger: “Tombouctou à Say”. Treated as a synonym of Acraea acerata by Bernaud, 2009. *Telchinia (Telchinia) actinotina (Lathy, 1903) Puzzling Acraea Telipna actinotina Lathy, 1903. Transactions of the Entomological Society of London 1903: 194 (183-206). Telchinia actinotina (Lathy, 1903). Silva-Brandao et al., 2008. Telchinia (Telchinia) actinotina (Lathy, 1903). Henning & Williams, 2010: 23. Type locality: Nigeria: “Anambara Creek”. Distribution: Nigeria (central, east). Specific localities: Nigeria – Ogruga near Anambra Creek at Nsukka (TL); Ahoada (R. St Leger, vide Larsen, 2005a); Sapoba (Soko Plains) (N. McNulty, vide Larsen, 2005a). Habitat: Nothing published. Habits: Normally a rare butterfly which, apparently, has periodic population explosions (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. *Telchinia (Telchinia) acuta (Howarth, 1969) Acraea ansorgei acuta Howarth, 1969. Proceedings of the Royal Entomological Society of London (B) 38: 146 (141-156). Acraea acuta Howarth, 1969. Kielland, 1990d: 149 stat. nov. Telchinia acuta (Howarth, 1969). Silva-Brandao et al., 2008. Telchinia (Telchinia) acuta (Howarth, 1969). Henning & Williams, 2010: 23. Telchinia acuta acuta. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Wingspan: 39mm. Mugesse, 5500', Misuku Hills, Malawi. 24.6.74. I. Bampton. (Henning collection – H145). Type locality: Tanzania: “Poroto Mts., 8000 feet, Ihoho Forest”. Diagnosis: Very similar to Telchinia ansorgei but the genitalia are distinctive (figured in Kielland, 1990d). The females are highly polymorphic (Kielland, 1990d). 4 Distribution: Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia. Habitat: Montane forest and mountain summits with evergreen shrubs (Kielland, 1990d). In Tanzania the altitudes at which the various subspecies occurs are as follows: nominate