Species recorded in Kenya in August 1993
All species listed below were identified in situ by Adrian Hoskins, using Larsen for reference.
Upon arriving at Nairobi airport, we were greeted by cool and extremely foggy weather, which made the long drive to our destination slow and hazardous. The rutted, pot-holed, and unlit roads were littered with broken tree branches that had been placed on the ground to warn drivers of the many broken-down trucks along the route. Our ground agent had told us that the westward journey across Kenya to Kakamega rainforest should take us about 5 hours, but the necessarily slow driving resulted in a journey time of over 8 hours.
Each day we drove the 5 miles to the reserve, following dirt roads where we found ourselves frequently stopping to photograph the many species of Acraea butterflies that mud-puddled along the way. The sight of a group of butterfly photographers lying on their bellies, sprawled across the road peering at butterflies through their viewfinders was a matter of great fascination and amusement to the local people.
The reserve had several access roads, and a network of internal tracks and paths, which we fully explored, and which produced hordes of superb butterflies. Amongst these were several distinctively patterned and very attractive Pansies including Junonia octavia and Junonia westermanni, many Acraea species, the aptly named Beautiful Tiger Tirumala formosa, several large Swallowtails, and 5 Euphaedra Forester species.
At one spot we found a large group of Charaxes species jostling for position to feed at mammal dung. The aggregation included no less than 6 specimens of the fabulous Tiger Pasha Charaxes castor, and 2 Green Charaxes C. eupale.
Amongst the many skippers was the fantastic Orange Sprite Celaenorrhinus galenus. Its extraordinarily rapid flight, and habit of settling beneath leaves, made it extremely difficult to follow, but the effort was repaid in full when the beautiful orange-marked wings were seen. Other beautiful skippers included the exquisite Metisella kakamega – marked with large yellow spots on a chocolate ground color, the strange Snow-horn Chondrolepis niveicornis which has white antennae, and Ceratrichia flava, a pretty species with a citrus yellow underside.
After 8 days at Kakamega, we returned to Nairobi, stopping en route to look at various savannah butterflies near Naivasha. These included several Colotis Orange tips and Crimson tips, and the intricately marked Silverline Spindasis ella.
We spent the next day at Nairobi National Park where we saw and photographed buffalo, zebra, ostriches, wart hogs, giraffes, various gazelles and antelopes, after which some of our group departed for England, but others including myself stayed an extra week, joining a safari to explore the tribal areas and national parks of northern Kenya.
Our trip took us across savannahs and boulder-strewn deserts to Lake Turkana, close to the Ethiopian border. It was a very rugged journey, but a fabulous adventure, and gave us a fascinating glimpse of the lives of the extremely photogenic Samburu, Maasai, and Turkana tribes. We returned via Samburu National Park where we had excellent views of an elephant family crossing a river, and also saw lions, giraffes, antelopes, and a great selection of birds.
The butterflies of Kakamega weren’t as diverse or thrilling as those of Ghana, and the safari to Turkana was often exceedingly uncomfortable; but overall we agreed that this was probably the most varied and fascinating trip that any of us had undertaken.
|
Site |
Family |
sub-family |
Genus |
species |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Coeliadinae |
Coeliades |
forestan |
|
Naivasha |
Hesperiidae |
Coeliadinae |
Coeliades |
forestan |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Acleros |
mackenii |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Borbo |
fatuellus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Ceratrichia |
flava |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Chondrolepis |
niveicornis |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Kedestes |
callicles |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Kedestes |
mohuzutza |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Metisella |
kakamega |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Hesperiinae |
Zenonia |
zeno |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Pyrginae |
Calaenorrhinus |
galenus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Pyrginae |
Eagris |
lucetia |
|
Naivasha |
Hesperiidae |
Pyrginae |
Eretis |
umbra |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Pyrginae |
Sarangesa |
haplopa |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Pyrginae |
Sarangesa |
maculata |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Pyrginae |
Spialia |
dromus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Hesperiidae |
Pyrginae |
Tagiades |
flesus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Lycaeninae |
Axiocerses |
tjoane |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Lycaeninae |
Axiocerses |
amanga |
|
Naivasha |
Lycaenidae |
Lycaeninae |
Axiocerses |
tjoane |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Lycaeninae |
Lipaphnaeus |
aderna |
|
Naivasha |
Lycaenidae |
Lycaeninae |
Spindasis |
ella |
|
Naivasha |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Actizera |
lucida |
|
Nandi Hills |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Actizera |
stellata |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Anthene |
ligures |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Anthene |
definita |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Anthene |
hobleyi |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Anthene |
indefinita |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Azanus |
jesous |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Azanus |
natalensis |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Cacyreus |
lingeus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Lampides |
boeticus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Leptotes |
pirithous |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Phlyaria |
cyara |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Tuxentius |
cretosus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Uranothauma |
delatorum |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Polyommatinae |
Uranothauma |
heritsia |
|
Kakamega forest |
Lycaenidae |
Theclinae |
Hypolycaena |
hatita |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Apaturinae |
Apaturopsis |
cleochares |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Biblidinae |
Catacroptera |
cloanthe |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Biblidinae |
Catuna |
crithea |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Biblidinae |
Sallya |
umbrina |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Biblidinae |
Ariadne |
pagenstecheri |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Biblidinae |
Cyrestis |
camillus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Charaxinae |
Charaxes |
candiope |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Charaxinae |
Charaxes |
castor |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Charaxinae |
Charaxes |
eupale |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Charaxinae |
Charaxes |
tiridates |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Danainae |
Amauris |
niavius |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Danainae |
Amauris |
tartarea |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Danainae |
Amauris |
albimaculata |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Danainae |
Danaus |
chrysippus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Danainae |
Tirumala |
formosa |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
uvui |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
servona |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
cinerea |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
pharsalus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
semivitrea |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
quadricolor |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
alciope |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
perenna |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
penelope |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
peneleos |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
asboloplintha |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
johnstoni |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
esebria |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
egina |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
conradti |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Acraea |
melanoxantha |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Heliconiinae |
Phalanta |
phalantha |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Libytheinae |
Libythea |
labdaca |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Limenitidinae |
Neptis |
serena |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Limenitidinae |
Neptis |
saclava |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Limenitidinae |
Neptis |
melicerta |
|
Mt Kenya |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Antanartia |
dimorphica |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Bebearia |
sophus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Euphaedra |
preussi |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Euphaedra |
medon |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Euphaedra |
eleus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Euphaedra |
rex |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Euphaedra |
uganda |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Eurytela |
dryope |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Hypolimnas |
anthedon |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Hypolimnas |
misippus |
|
Nandi Hills |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Issoria |
hanningtoni |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
stygia |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
terea |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
westermanni |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
pelarga |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
tugela |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
oenone |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
octavia |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
ceryne |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
sophia |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
orithya |
|
Naivasha |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
oenone |
|
Naivasha |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
archesia |
|
Naivasha |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
hierta |
|
Naivasha |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Junonia |
orithya |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Pseudargynnis |
hegemone |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Salamis |
temora |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Salamis |
parhassus |
|
Naivasha |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Vanessa |
cardui |
|
Nandi Hills |
Nymphalidae |
Nymphalinae |
Vanessula |
milca |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Bicyclus |
safitza |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Bicyclus |
saussurei |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Bicyclus |
dentatus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Bicyclus |
golo |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Ypthima |
condamini |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Ypthima |
asterope |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Ypthima |
granulosa |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Ypthima |
albida |
|
Kakamega forest |
Nymphalidae |
Satyrinae |
Ypthimomorpha |
itotia |
|
Kakamega forest |
Papilionidae |
Papilioninae |
Papilio |
lormieri |
|
Kakamega forest |
Papilionidae |
Papilioninae |
Papilio |
dardanus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Papilionidae |
Papilioninae |
Papilio |
bromius |
|
Kakamega forest |
Papilionidae |
Papilioninae |
Papilio |
phorcas |
|
Kakamega forest |
Papilionidae |
Papilioninae |
Papilio |
echerioides |
|
Kakamega forest |
Papilionidae |
Papilioninae |
Papilio |
demodocus |
|
Kakamega forest |
Papilionidae |
Papilioninae |
Papilio |
mackinnoni |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Coliadinae |
Catopsilia |
florella |
|
Nandi Hills |
Pieridae |
Coliadinae |
Colias |
electo |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Coliadinae |
Eurema |
brigitta |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Coliadinae |
Eurema |
hapale |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Coliadinae |
Eurema |
hecabe |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Appias |
epaphia |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Belenois |
raffrayi |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Belenois |
calypso |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Belenois |
aurota |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Belenois |
sudanensis |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Belenois |
creona |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Colotis |
elgonensis |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Colotis |
aurigineus |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Colotis |
danae |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Colotis |
protomedia |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Colotis |
eucharis |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Colotis |
evenina |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Colotis |
antevippe |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Dixeia |
doxo |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Eronia |
pharis |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Leptosia |
alcesta |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Leptosia |
nupta |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Mylothris |
rhodope |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Mylothris |
poppea |
|
Naivasha |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Mylothris |
chloris |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Nepheronia |
argia |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Nepheronia |
thalassina |
|
Kakamega forest |
Pieridae |
Pierinae |
Pontia |
helice |