Observations on the biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Part 7. Hesperiinae incertae sedis: grass and bamboo feeders
Author
Cock, Matthew J. W.
Author
Congdon, T. Colin E.
text
Zootaxa
2014
3872
4
301
354
journal article
10.11646/zootaxa.3872.4.1
3278c375-6c89-42a2-b7ac-24b9bb91730e
1175-5326
251860
8FECCFC1-7CA9-4A90-B881-4BD40157AD99
Perrotia
discussion
The fact that several caterpillars were found of the extremely rare species in collections,
P. albiplaga
, may have been a freak event, but more likely indicates that early stages are more easily located than adults in this species. This could also apply to other apparently rare Madagascan endemics. The striking caterpillar central head marking is not matched in any other African
Hesperiinae
as far as we are aware, but is more reminiscent of
Kedestes
spp. (e.g.
Figure 5
) and
Moltena fiara
(Butler)
(
Henning
et al
. 1997
, TCEC unpublished) than other genera. The black anal plate in instar n-2 is not a common feature amongst African
Hesperiinae
, but is found in
M. fiara
,
K. niveostriga schloszi
(above),
K. callicles
(
Figure 7
) and we have seen a similar marking in
Metisella
(Heteropterinae)
. The extensive dark markings of the pupa are reminiscent of
Kedestes
spp. (
Figure 6
), rather than members of the
Ploetzia
group (below,
Cock
et al
. 2014
). We hesitate to suggest any phylogenetic links based on these superficial similarities.