AFROTROPICAL BUTTERFLIES. MARK C. WILLIAMS. http://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb Updated 12 December 2020 Genus Bicyclus Kirby, [1871] Bush Browns In: Kirby, [1871], [1877]. A synonymic catalogue of diurnal lepidoptera 47 (690 pp. (1871); Suppl. 691-883 (1877). London). [Replacement name for Idiomorphus Doumet.] = Idiomorphus Doumet, 1861. Revue et Magasin de Zoologie Pure et Appliqué (2) 13: 174 (171- 178). Type-species: Idiomorphus hewitsonii Dourmet, by monotypy. [Invalid; junior homonym of Idiomorphus de Chaudoir, 1846.] = Monotrichtis Hampson, 1891. Annals and Magazine of Natural History (6) 7: 179 (179-184). Type-species: Mycalesis safitza Westwood, by original designation. = Dicothyris Karsch, 1893. Berliner Entomologische Zeitschrift 38: 203 (1-266). Type- species: Mycalesis sambulos Hewitson, by subsequent designation (Hemming, 1935. Stylops 4: 1 (1-3).). The genus Bicyclus belongs to the Family Nymphalidae Rafinesque, 1815; Subfamily Satyrinae Boisduval, 1833; Tribe Satyrini Boisduval, 1833; Subtribe Mycalesina Reuter, 1896. The other genera in the Subtribe Mycalesina in the Afrotropical Region are Hallelesis, Heteropsis and Brakefieldia. Bicyclus (Bush Browns) is an Afrotropical genus containing 102 species (October, 2016). Generic review by Condamin (1973). An updated phylogenetic hypothesis was published by Aduse-Poku et al. in 2016. CURRENT PHYLOGENETIC HYPOTHESIS FOR THE GENUS BICYCLUS (after Aduse-Poku et al., 2016) SPECIES-GROUP INCLUDED TAXA evadne-group evadne, howarthi, xeneas, alboplaga, xeneoides nobilis-group nobilis, larseni trilophus-group trilophus, jacksoni, sealeae ignobilis-group ignobilis, maesseni, brakefieldi, vandeweghei, ottossoni, rileyi (Brattstrom et al., 2015) hewitsoni-group hewitsoni, medontias, wakaensis, iccius, ephorus, sweadneri, sebetus, graueri, choveti, italus, zinebi, bergeri sciathis-group heathi, ivindo, uniformis, procora, subtilisurae, hyperanthus, amieti, feae, analis, sciathis, elishiae, sigiussidorum, makomensis (Brattstrom et al, 2016) taenias-group taenias milyas-group milyas, pavonis saussurei-group uzungwensis, danckelmani, simulacris, pareensis, dentata, neustetteri, albocincta, aurivillii, anisops, saussurei, suffusa safitza-group safitza, cottrelli 1 funebris-group funebris martius-group dekeyseri, dubia, persimilis, buea, martius, sanaos, matuta, golo, smithi, madetes, istaris, lamani, brunnea, sophrosyne, similis ena-group ena, campina, condamini, vansoni dorothea-group sandace, vulgaris, jefferyi, moyses, dorothea rhacotis-group technatis, nachtetis, rhacotis, mesogena, mesogenina, sambulos, sangmelinae angulosa-group anynana, auricruda, mandanes, kenia, collinsi, mollitia, sylvicolus, abnormis, angulosa, campa, tanzanicus, cooksoni, kiellandi Relevant literature: Duplouy & Brattstrom, 2017 [Wolbachia in Bicyclus]. Aduse-Poku et al., 2016 [Phylogenetic hypothesis]. Brattstrom et al 2016 [Revision of Bicyclus species group] Brattstrom et al 2015 [Revision of Bicyclus species group] Hedenstrom et al., 2015 [Chemical analysis of pheromones in 17 Bicyclus species]. Brakefield & Joran, 2010 [Evolution of flexibility of wing patterns]. Oliver et al., 2009 [Natural and sexual selection in wing pattern evolution]. Arbesman et al., 2003 [Evolution of wing patterns]. evadne-group *Bicyclus evadne (Cramer, [1779]) Small Stately Bush Brown Papilio evadne Cramer, [1779] in Cramer, [1779-80]. Die Uitlandsche Kapellen voorkomende in de drie waerrelddeelen Asia, Africa en America 3: 71 (176 pp.). Amsteldam & Utrecht. Type locality: Sierra Leone. Diagnsos: There are two female morphs, one with, and another without a pale apical band (Aduse-Poku et al., 2016). Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria (east), Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko), Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (Mayumbe, Ubangi, Mongala, Uele). Specific localities: Guinea – Ziama (Safian et al., 2020). Liberia – Wologizi (Safian et al., 2020); Wonegizi (Safian et al., 2020). Ghana – Kakum (Larsen, 2005a). Equatorial Guinea – Boloko, Bioko (Martin, 2015); Botonos, Bioko (Martin, 2015). Gabon – Mondah (Vande weghe, 2010); Pongara (Vande weghe, 2010); Nyonie (Vande weghe, 2010); Alen Nkoma (Vande weghe, 2010); Iguela (Vande weghe, 2010); Lake Evaro (Vande weghe, 2010); Keri (Vande weghe, 2010); Mikongo (Vande weghe, 2010); Waka (Vande weghe, 2010). Congo – Niari Valley (Janet, 1894). Democratic Republic of Congo – Kamituga (Dufrane, 1945). Habitat: Forest. Habits: An uncommon butterfly, with localized colonies linked to swampy ground (Larsen, 2005a). Individuals keep to the darkest places in the forest (Larsen, 2005a). Courting males have a jerky, irregular flight, during which the silvery-white costa is visible, presumably because pheromones are being released (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Nothing published. 2 Larval food: Nothing published. servatius Godart, 1824 in Latreille & Godart, [1819], [1824] (as sp. of Satyrus). Encyclopédie Méthodique. Histoire Naturelle [Zoologie] 9 Entomologie: 471, 525 (1-328 [1819], 329-828 [1824]). Paris. No locality given. elionias (Hewitson, [1866]) in Hewitson, [1862-6] (as sp. of Mycalesis). in Hewitson, [1862-6]. Type locality: Nigeria: “Old Calabar”. Synonymized with evadne (Cramer, [1779]) by Aduse-Poku et al., 2016 syn. nov. [misspelt as elionas] noblemairei Janet, 1894 (as sp. of Mycalesis). Bulletin de la Société Entomologique de France 63: 256 (256- 257). Congo: “Congo Française (valée du Niari)”. subignobilis Strand, 1913 (as sp. of Mycalesis). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.7.): 149 (138-151). Equatorial Guinea: “Span. Guinea”. alberici Dufrane, 1945 (as sp. of Mycalesis). Bulletin et Annales de la Société Royale Entomologique de Belgique 81: 95 (90-143). Democratic Republic of Congo: “Kamituga”. *Bicyclus howarthi Condamin, 1963 Bitje Bush Brown Bicyclus howarthi Condamin, 1963. Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Afrique Noire (A) 25: 908 (901-911). Type locality: Cameroon: “Bitje, Cameroons”. Distribution: Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon. Specific localities: Cameroon – Bitje (TL). Gabon – Kangwe (Vande weghe, 2010); Nouna (Vande weghe, 2010). Early stages: Nothing published. Larval food: Nothing published. *Bicyclus xeneas (Hewitson, [1866]) Stately Bush Brown Stately Bush Brown (Bicyclus xeneas). Bunso, Ghana. Image courtesy Pamela Sai. Mycalesis xeneas Hewitson, [1866] in Hewitson [1862-6]. Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies 3: 92, 93 (124 pp.). London. 3 Bicyclus xeneas xeneas. Male. Left – upperside; right- underside. Ivindo N.P., Gabon. 18 November 2017. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. Bicyclus xeneas xeneas. Female. Left – upperside; right- underside. Kongu, Ivindo N.P., Gabon. 23 November 2017. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. Type locality: Nigeria: “Old Calabar”. Diagnosis: The differences between xeneas, xeneoides and alboplaga are discussed by Aduse-Poku et al., 2016: 12. Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo. Habitat: Forest. Habits: Relatively common but never numerous (Larsen, 2005a). Readily enters banana-baited traps; some have even been taken in traps 25 m above the ground (H. Fermon, vide Larsen, 2005a). Females appear to be more active than males, often moving considerable distances through the forest (Larsen, 2005a). Early stages: Sourakov & Emmel, 1997. Larval food: Nothing published. Bicyclus xeneas xeneas (Hewitson, [1866]) Stately Bush Brown Mycalesis xeneas Hewitson, [1866] in Hewitson [1862-6]. Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies 3: 92, 93 (124 pp.). 4 London. Bicyclus xeneas xeneas. Male. Left – upperside; right- underside. Ivindo N.P., Gabon. 18 November 2017. J. Dobson. Images M.C. Williams ex Dobson Collection. Bicyclus xeneas xeneas. Female. Left – upperside; right- underside. Kongu, Ivindo N.P., Gabon. 23 November 2017. 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, Democratic Republic of Congo (Mayumbe, Equateur, Tshuapa, Sankuru). Specific localities: Nigeria – Old Calabar (TL). Cameroon – Korup (Larsen, 2005a). Equatorial Guinea – Alen, Makomo (Strand, 1913). Gabon – Tchimbele (Vande weghe, 2010); Waka (Vande weghe, 2010); Ipassa (Vande weghe, 2010); Langoue (Vande weghe, 2010); Nouna (Vande weghe, 2010); Bakouaka (Vande weghe, 2010). phalanthus Staudinger, 1887 in Staudinger & Schatz, 1884-8 (as sp. of Mycalesis). Exotischer Schmetterlinge 1: 229 (333 pp.). Bayern. Gabon: “Gabun”; Democratic Republic of Congo: “unteren Congo”. phalanthoides Strand, 1913 (as var. of Mycalesis phalanthus). Archiv für Naturgeschichte 79 (A.7.): 143 (138-151). Equatorial Guinea: “Alen, Makomo”. Bicyclus xeneas occidentalis Condamin, 1965 5 Western Stately Bush Brown Bicyclus xeneas occidentalis Condamin, 1965. Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Afrique Noire (A) 27: 1108 (1095-1110). Type locality: Ivory Coast: “Forêt du Banco près d’Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire”. Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria (west and south). Specific localities: Guinea – Ziama (Safian et al., 2020). Liberia – Wonegizi (Safian et al., 2020). Ivory Coast – Banco, Abidjan (TL); Bossematie (H. Fermon, vide Larsen, 2005a). Ghana – Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary (Larsen et al., 2007); Boabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (Larsen et al., 2009). *Bicyclus alboplaga