Ampittia capenas Hewitson, 1868

Cock, Matthew J. W. & Congdon, Colin E., 2012, Observations on the biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) principally from Kenya. Part 4. Hesperiinae: Aeromachini and Baorini, Zootaxa 3438, pp. 1-42 : 3

Ampittia capenas Hewitson, 1868 ( Figures 1–3 )

This species was described from ‘Zambesi’ ( Hewitson 1868) and is found from eastern DR Congo ( Democratic Republic of Congo) to Zimbabwe and Mozambique, northwards to Kenya ( Evans 1937a, Kielland 1990, Larsen 1991). In Tanzania, ssp. capenas is found in eastern Tanzania, while ssp. blanda Evans (1947) is in the west. This is a woodland species but is also found in more open formations and forest margins. TCEC found the food plant to be an unidentified grass ( Poaceae )—this appears to be the first confirmed record of a food plant for this species.

The leaf shelter of the mature caterpillar is made by rolling a leaf upwards, and tying it with silk strands, with feeding distal to this leaving the mid-rib bared ( Figure 1 ). The mature caterpillar is pale green with a black dorsal plate T1, and a black, rugose head ( Figure 2 ). The pupa is cylindrical, white and has two anterior projections angled outwards at right angles to the body ( Figure 3 ). It is formed in a completely closed grass leaf tube shelter and attached at the cremaster.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Leaf shelter of final instar caterpillar of Ampittia capenas on unidentified grass, Rondo Plateau, SE Tanzania, 850 m, 0 9 Feb 2005, TCEC.

FIGURE 2. Final instar caterpillar of Ampittia capenas on unidentified grass, Rondo Plateau, SE Tanzania, 850 m, 0 9 Feb 2005, TCEC. 1, dorsal view; 2, head anterior view.

FIGURE 3. Pupa of Ampittia capenas collected on unidentified grass, Rondo Plateau, SE Tanzania, 850 m, 0 9 Feb 2005, photographed 13 Feb 2005, TCEC. 1, dorsal view; 2, lateral view.