Leona Evans, 1937

Cock, Matthew J. W., Congdon, Colin E. & Collins, Steve C., 2014, Observations on the biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Part 6. Hesperiinae incertae sedis: palm feeders, Zootaxa 3831 (1), pp. 1-61 : 50

Leona Evans, 1937

Evans (1937) introduced this genus, which he considered closely related to Pteroteinon and Caenides Holland, for nine species which previously were included in Caenides . Although he distinguished them by their ‘antennae which are white or ochreous above’, he also noted that the male genitalia indicate a cohesive group. Lindsey & Miller (1965) concluded that the antennae and genitalia do not separate the two genera, and Leona and Caenides are congeneric, Caenides being the senior name. They recognised two groups within the combined genus: the dacela group with a hair tuft UPH between M 3 and Cu 2 (Evans refers to ‘overlying the bases of veins 2, 3 and 4’) and the leonora group without, which align partially, but not completely, with Evans’ Caenides and Leona respectively. Carcasson (1981) and Ackery et al. (1995) follow Lindsey & Miller (1965), but Larsen (2005) reverted to Evans’ (1937) arrangement, and we follow this here as the most recent comprehensive treatment. It is likely that an analysis of the early stages and food plants will throw light on this question, but as yet, those of relatively few species are known, and the records for both genera include palms and softer-leaved monocotyledons such as Zingiberaceae .

Leona halma Evans is recorded from Zingiberaceae : Amomum ( Kielland 1990) and Aframomum ( Heath et al. 2002, Vande weghe 2010), although it is not impossible that one of these is an error for the other, most probably the former for the latter. Heath et al. (2002) suggest that the food plant of L. leonora dux Evans is possibly also Zingiberaceae . Leona lissa Evans has been reared from Dracaena sp. (Asparagaceae) (SCC in Larsen 2005, Vande weghe 2010), but the genitalia are so different that it is probably not congeneric with the larger Leona spp. (T.B. Larsen pers. comm. 2014).