Introduction

The genus Meza comprises of 9 small species, all of which are found in sub-Saharan Africa.

Meza meza is a west African species found from Ghana to Angola.

Habitats

This species is found in forest edge habitats at altitudes between sea level and about 800m.

Lifecycle

The larva has been reported as feeding on the grass Paspalum ( Poaceae ) but all other members of this genus feed on dicotyledons including Linaceae, Fabaceae and Dichapetalaceae.

Adult behaviour

The butterflies can be found in one’s and two’s in forest edge habitats e.g. along logging roads and in glades. In the early morning sunshine they bask on bushes and low herbage, adopting the typical Hesperiine posture as illustrated at the top of this page. Later in the day they retire to semi-shaded areas, often beneath trees, but periodically emerge to nectar at the flowers of nearby herbaceous plants. When nectaring they usually hold their wings erect over the back.

Introduction

The genus Paracleros comprises of 6 species, all wholly African in distribution. Three of these are extremely similar, and were all grouped together under the name placidus, until 1978 when Berger proved with DNA analysis that they were distinct species. They can only be told apart with certainty by dissecting and microscopically examining the genitalia, so my determination of the illustrated species as placidus must be considered speculative.

The known range of Paracleros placidus extends from Cote d’Ivoire to Togo, but it is likely to also occur further east and west.

Habitats

This species is found in grassy areas within forest, typically in the shade beneath forest edge trees, or along shady logging roads.

Lifecycle

The larval foodplants are grasses, but the exact species used are not recorded.

Adult behaviour

Both sexes commonly visit the flowers of herbaceous plants for nectar. As befits their vernacular name, they have a rapid darting flight, rarely fly more than a few centimetres above ground level.

Introduction

The genus Andronymus comprises of 10 species, all of which are Afrotropical in distribution. They and the similar genus Paronymus are characterised by having a white patch on the hindwing, which contains within it a small triangular semi-hyaline window. Paronymus in comparison have a much straighter edge to the outer margin on the forewing. They are also larger and differ in the structure of the genitalia.

Andronymus caesar is the commonest and most widespread member of the genus. It is found from Sierra Leone to Sudan, and south to Angola, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Habitats

This species is found in primary and secondary forest.

Lifecycle

The larval foodplants include Afrormosia, Isoberlina, Pterocarpus, Macrolobium, Berlinia, Pericopis, Julbernardia, Detarium ( Fabaceae ), and Deinbollia, Phialodiscus and Blighia ( Sapindaceae ). The utilization of dicotyledons as foodplants is very unusual among Hesperiinae, which in almost every other genus feed on monocotyledons ( grasses, sedges, palms, bamboos etc ).

Adult behaviour

This butterfly is usually encountered singly when visiting flowers along the edges of forest roads. It can also be seen along the narrower trails, darting from leaf to leaf in the undergrowth and pausing occasionally to feed at bird droppings.

Introduction

The genus Acleros comprises of about 12 species, one of which – mackenii is of uncertain status and may eventually be split into 2 or 3 species. All but one of the Acleros species are found in Africa. The remaining species – leucopyga, is endemic to Madagascar.

Acleros nigrapex is found from Liberia to CAR, Congo, Uganda and north-west Tanzania.

Habitats

The butterfly is found mainly along tracks and roads through degraded forest.

Lifecycle

The larval foodplants are unknown.

Adult behaviour

This species is usually encountered singly or along the edge of forest roads.

Introduction

The genus Acleros comprises of about 12 species, of which 9-11 are found in mainland Africa. The remaining species – leucopyga, is endemic to Madagascar.

Acleros mackenii is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and on Madagascar – however the status of its alleged subspecies is uncertain. It may turn out to be the case that “mackenii” should be split into 2 or 3 distinct species.

Habitats

The butterfly is found mainly along tracks and roads through degraded forest, and is commonest in lush damp areas. It also occurs in lower numbers in riparian forest (strips of forest growing along riverbanks in savannah-dominated areas).

Lifecycle

The larval foodplants are listed as Rhus (Anacardiaceae) and Acridocarpus (Malpighiaceae).

Adult behaviour

This tiny species is usually seen in two’s and three’s, but sometimes it can be found in much larger numbers. Both sexes commonly visit the flowers of herbaceous plants for nectar. Males also visit bird droppings.

Introduction

The 9 largish members of the genus Pteroteinon are all west African in distribution.

In common with several crepuscular / nocturnal skipper genera from other regions of the world, Pteroteinon species all have red eyes – possibly a factor that helps them to see better in the dark.

Pteroteinon laufella can easily be distinguished from related species by the presence of a slightly metallic blue-green sheen on the upper surface of it’s wings.

The Blue Red-eye is found from Sierra Leone to Congo and Angola.

Habitats

This is a rainforest species, but it is quite tolerant of habitat degradation, and is quite common in relatively open area such as clearings and larger glades.

Lifecycle

The larvae feed on the leaves of oil palm Elaeis, and on coconut Cocos.

Adult behaviour

The butterfly is usually encountered singly. It can sometimes be disturbed from its resting places in the forest undergrowth during the day, in which case it darts off rapidly but quickly resettles a few metres away. The main period of activity however begins at dusk, when the butterfly can be seen whirring from flower to flower around forest glades. Before long it locates an Ipomoea – a common member of the Convolvulaceae with deep trumpet-like pink flowers. After a second or two it crawls right into the flower to reach the nectaries, until it almost disappears from view. It remains within the flower, feeding avidly until the petals close around it, providing it with a safe haven for the night. At dawn the next day the flowers gradually reopen, and the warmth of the sun arouses the butterfly, persuading it to leave and seek a hiding place in the shade of the forest.

Introduction

The 9 largish members of the genus Pteroteinon are all west African in distribution.

In common with several crepuscular / nocturnal skipper genera from other regions of the world, Pteroteinon species all have red eyes – possibly a factor that helps them to see better in the dark.

The White-banded Red-eye is a common species found from Sierra Leone to western Uganda.

Habitats

This is a forest species, found at altitudes between about 100-1000m.

Lifecycle

The larval foodplants are palms – Arecaceae.

Adult behaviour

The butterflies have a very rapid flight, and are active mainly at dusk, but will also fly in overcast conditions in the daytime, and can often be disturbed from rest in the undergrowth. Males visit bird droppings, and are also reported to visit damp sand for moisture.

Introduction

There are 22 known species in the genus Borbo, of which 18 are found in the Afrotropical region.

One of the commonest species in Africa is the Long-horned Swift, Borbo fatuellus, which is also known as the Foolish Swift, although the reason why it received that name seems to be unknown.

Borbo fatuellus is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, except in desert regions. It also occurs in south-west Arabia.

Habitats

This species can be found in almost any forested habitat in Africa, including thickets in savannah country, and severely degraded areas within the forest belt.

Lifecycle

The larvae feed nocturnally on various grasses including Setaria, Panicum, Digitaria, Pennisetum, and Imperata (Poaceae).

Adult behaviour

This is a sun-loving species which can be found basking on the lower foliage of bushes and herbs in forest edge habitats. When basking it adopts the characteristic Hesperiine posture, with forewings half-open, and hindwings held flat. In hot weather the butterflies thermoregulate by closing their wings or seeking shade.

Introduction

There are 5 known species in the genus Monza, all of which are Afrotropical in distribution. The most widespread and abundant of these is alberti which occurs from Senegal to western Kenya. It is smaller than cretacea, and darker, almost black.

Monza cretacea is found throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa, from Sierra Leone to Uganda, western Kenya and north-west Tanzania.

Habitats

This species is found in dry forests, secondary woodland, and along logging roads and clearings in rainforest. It also occurs in thickets in savannah country.

Lifecycle

The larvae have been reared in captivity on Setaria and Saccharum (Poaceae), but the wild foodplants are unrecorded. The larva of the closely related species alberti has been found feeding on Pennisetum in the wild.

Adult behaviour

The butterfly is normally encountered in low numbers. Males perch on low foliage in forest-edge habitats to await passing females.

Introduction

The genus Osmodes comprises of 15 species, distributed variously across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. All have blackish-brown uppersides with extensive bright orange-yellow markings. The undersides are yellow, mottled with blackish in most species, and are marked with conspicuous white spots which vary in configuration according to species.

Osmodes thora is found from Sierra Leone to southern Sudan, and south to Angola, Congo, Uganda and western Tanzania.

Habitats

This species is found along logging roads and forest edge habitats. It is probably more abundant in secondary forest than in untouched rainforest.

Lifecycle

The larvae feed on arrowroots (Marantaceae).

Adult behaviour

The butterflies are usually seen in one’s and two’s, perching or basking on bushes, or on the lower leaves of trees on sunny mornings. Later in the day they can sometimes be observed higher up on the foliage of trees in forest edge habitats.