Camerunia bimaculata ( Dewitz, 1879 )

Takano, Hitoshi, 2025, Taxonomic revision of Camerunia Aurivillius, 1893 and allied genera (Lepidoptera: Eupterotidae: Janinae), European Journal of Taxonomy 1022, pp. 134-175 : 155-159

Camerunia bimaculata ( Dewitz, 1879) comb. rev.

Figs 1, 22–27, 44–45, 52, 56

Dreata bimaculata Dewitz, 1879: 33 , pl. 2 fig. 5. Type locality: [ Angola] “dem 10° S.B. und zwischen dem 17–22° O.L. von Greenw.”

Camerunia bimaculata – Aurivillius 1901b: 27 (comb.)

Catajana bimaculata – Strand 1910: 98. — Gaede 1927: 306, pl. 46 fig. d. — Kiriakoff 1954: 11. — Vári et al. 2002: 150. — Kitching et al. 2018: suppl. material 1. — Krüger 2020: 138.

Hemijana bimaculata – Forbes 1955: 94, 129.

Diagnosis

Camerunia bimaculata ( Dewitz, 1879) comb. rev. is a highly distinctive insect taxon that cannot readily be confused with any of its congeners. It shares a yellow ground colour of the wings with C. flava , but in the latter, both sets of wings are of the same colour and the forewing lacks the discal markings as well as fasciae. The general pattern of the wings is somewhat reminiscent of that of C. subrosea ( Aurivillius, 1893) comb. nov., but in the latter, the forewings generally have a slightly pinkish tinge, whilst the hindwings range from rosy-red to pink. The male genitalia of C. bimaculata are most similar to those of C. subrosea , but in the latter, a digitate basal process is present along the ventral margin of the lateral process of the tegumen (absent in C. bimaculata ), the spines of the gnathos are more densely packed together arising closer to the midline, the apex of the saccular process is triangular and pointed (rounded in C. bimaculata ), and the phallic tube is shorter and more robust.

Type material

Holotype

ANGOLA • ♂ ( Fig. 22); “21768 // guinea / inter. / Pogge [green paper; handwritten] // Bimaculata / Dwtz. * [green paper; handwritten] // Bimaculata / Dwtz. Mittheill. / J. Münchener ent. / Vereins. 1879. p.33. / t.II. f.5 [green paper; handwritten]”; MfN .

Other material examined ( 58 ♂♂, 7 ♀♀)

ANGOLA – Bié • 1 ♀; Bihé [= Kuito]; F.S. Arnot leg.; NHMUK . – Malanje • 1 ♂; Fort Don Carlos ; 20 Sep. 1903; W.J. Ansorge leg.; NHMUK . – Moxico • 1 ♂; Moxico District ; 1219 m a.s.l.; Oct. 1928; T.A. Barns leg.; NHMUK .

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO – Haut-Katanga • 1 ♂; Elisabethville [= Lubumbashi]; 14 Jan. 1948; C. Seydel leg.; RMCA • 1 ♂; same collecting data as for preceding; 26 Nov. 1955; RMCA • 1 ♂; Likasi ; 1924; NHMUK • 1 ♂; Luena ; 25 Sep. 1983; RMCA • 1 ♂; Mwera ; 23 Feb. 1982; RMCA • 1 ♂; Parc National de l’Upemba, Kaswabilenga ; 700 m a.s.l.; 15 Sep.–6 Nov. 1947; Mission G.F. de Witte leg.; RMCA . – Lualaba • 1 ♂; Kafakumba ; Mar. 1929; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Kangagi [= Kangaji]; Jan. 1927; F.G. Overlaet leg.; RMCA • 1 ♂; Kolwezi ; Jan. 1953; V. Allard leg.; RMCA .

MALAWI – Southern • 1 ♂; between Fort Mangoche and Chikala Boma ; 1219 m a.s.l.; 21 Mar. 1910; S.A. Neave leg.; NHMUK .

TANZANIA – Rukwa • 1 ♂; Kalambo Forest Reserve ; 8°21.596′ S, 31°15.221′ E; 1632 m a.s.l.; 22 Nov. 2009; P. Darge leg.; ANHRT .

ZAMBIA – Central • 1 ♂; Kasanka River Pontoon, Kasanka National Park ; 12°34′23″ S, 30°14′05″ E; 1191 m a.s.l.; 2–4 Dec. 2012; R. Smith and H. Takano leg.; ANHRT. – Copperbelt • 1 ♀; Mwengwa ; 23 Feb. 1914; H.C. Dollman leg.; NHMUK. – Luapula • 1 ♂; Mumbuluma Falls ; 1190 m; 12 Jan. 2018; P. Schmit leg.; RCPB. – Muchinga • 3 ♂♂; Benyanga village ; 10°40′41″ S, 33°27′45″ E; 1250 m a.s.l.; 7–12 Dec. 2023; G. László, L. Morgan and A. Volynkin leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Kalungu ; 9°40′52″ S, 32°42′50″ E; 1280 m a.s.l.; 22–24 Nov. 2016; R. Smith, H. Takano and D. Oram leg.; ANHRT • 6 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 5–8 Mar. 2017; D. Oram, W. Miles and L. Smith leg.; ANHRT • 3 ♂♂; same data as for preceding; 11 Mar. 2017; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Mama Muwowo’s Lodge, Muyombe ; 10°32′40″ S, 33°26′05″ E; 1230 m a.s.l.; 29–30 Nov. 2023; M. Bashford, A. Collins, G. László, L. Morgan and A. Volynkin leg.; ANHRT • 3 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 6–7 Dec. 2023; G. László, L. Morgan and A. Volynkin leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♀; Mpika ; Nov. 1950; H.B.D. Kettlewell leg.; NHMUK . – Northwestern • 1 ♂, 1 ♀; Chitunta Plain ; 11°29′12″ S, 24°24′18″ E; 1396 m a.s.l.; 29 Nov.–4 Dec. 2019; M. Bashford, W. Miles and L. Mulvaney leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; dambo near Kanyama ; 11°25′36″ S, 24°40′00″ E; 1375 m a.s.l.; 4–7 Dec. 2019; M. Bashford, W. Miles and L. Mulvaney leg.; ANHRT • 2 ♂♂; Hillwood, Ikelenge ; 11°16′02″ S, 24°18′59″ E; 1400 m a.s.l.; 23–30 Nov. 2019; M. Bashford, W. Miles, L. Mulvaney and R. Smith leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Jiwundu Swamp ; 11°51′54″ S, 25°33′20″ E; 1340 m a.s.l.; 25–30 Oct. 2017; M. Carter, A. Lloyd, W. Miles, D. Oram and R. Smith leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 29 Oct.–4 Nov. 2018; M. Aristophanous, V. Dérozier, G. László and D. Oram leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Kambishi, Jiwundu ; 11°54′39″ S, 25°29′05″ E; 1340 m a.s.l.; 18–19 Oct. 2014; R. Smith, H. Takano and D. Oram leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Lukwakwa, West Lunga National Park ; 12°39′40″ S, 24°26′13″ E; 1147 m a.s.l.; 4–8 Nov. 2013; R. Smith, H. Takano and D. Oram leg.; ANHRT • 2 ♂♂; same locality as for preceding; 9–15 Nov. 2018; M. Aristophanous, V. Dérozier, G. László and D. Oram leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Nkwaji, Mwinilunga ; 11°36′22″ S, 24°33′17″ E; 1316 m a.s.l.; 29 Oct.–3 Nov. 2013; R. Smith and H. Takano leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; same locality as for preceding; 3–10 Nov. 2017; M. Carter, A. Lloyd, W. Miles, D. Oram and R. Smith leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Solwezi ; 2 Nov. 1917; H.C. Dollman leg.; NHMUK • 1 ♀; Zambezi Rapids ; 11°07′30″ S, 24°11′06″ E; 1205 m a.s.l.; 4–9 Nov. 2018; M. Aristophanous, V. Dérozier, G. László and D. Oram leg.; ANHRT . – Southern • 7 ♂♂; Bruce-Miller Farm, Choma ; 16°38′12″ S, 27°01′30″ E; 1179 m a.s.l.; 28 Feb.–8 Mar. 2019; Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles and L. Mulvaney leg.; ANHRT • 1 ♂; Kalomo ; C.W. Brames Hall leg.; NHMUK • 3 ♂♂; Musuku Lodge, Bruce-Miller Farm, Choma ; 16°38′44.4″ S, 27°03′32.6″ E; 1227 m a.s.l.; 28 Feb.–8 Mar. 2019; V. Dérozier, M. Imakando, W. Miles and L. Mulvaney leg.; ANHRT . – Western • 1 ♂; 30 km S of Mongu ; 15°36.78′ S, 23°19.13′ E; 4 Dec. 2017; R. Minetti leg.; ANHRT • 2 ♂♂; Ndanda ; 15°04′44″ S, 23°45′59″ E; 1090 m a.s.l.; 10–11 Nov. 2013; R. Smith, H. Takano and D. Oram leg.; ANHRT .

ZIMBABWE • 1 ♂; Mashonaland; H.B. Dobbie leg.; NHMUK. – Harare • 1 ♀; Salisbury [= Harare]; Dec. 1898; G.A.K. Marshall leg.; NHMUK .

Redescription

Male ( Figs 22–25, 52)

FOREWING LENGTH. 30–35 mm.

UPPERSIDE. Ground colour of head, thorax, forewings and abdomen beige; vertex dark greyish-brown, patagium slightly golden, hindwing yellow. Antenna bipectinate, dark brown. Eighth sternite truncate posteriorly, weakly sclerotised; its surface covered evenly in fine punctures with scattering of deeper punctures. Forewing triangular, rounded at apex, outer margin gently arcuate; costa with golden scaling. Antemedial fascia indicated by dark brown dots along veins, sinuate, poorly defined, arising at cubital and terminating along anal margin. Discal marking black, double, one on either side of medial vein, inner smaller than outer; outer sometimes split in half by vein M2. Postmedial fascia dark brown, arcuate, with darker dots along veins; fascia arising perpendicularly just over halfway along costa and gently curved inwards at vein M1, terminating perpendicularly to anal margin. Submarginal fascia indicated by dark brown dots along veins, running in line with the postmedial fascia. Fringe pale beige irrorated with golden scales.

HINDWING. Outer margin arcuate, slightly angled at vein M2. Postmedial and submarginal fasciae dark brown, arcuate, showing through from the underside. Fringe pale beige irrorated with golden scales.

UNDERSIDE. Legs and to lesser degree abdomen densely covered in long carmine ciliate scales, giving different appearance to upperside. Ground colour of wings golden with ferruginous tinge. Postmedial fascia dark brown, fine, placed slightly distad of and straight than that on upperside. Submarginal fascia dark brown, fine, placed slightly distad of and more arcuate than that on upperside. Hindwing veins well-defined with dark brown scaling. Postmedial and submarginal fasciae dark brown, arcuate, almost running parallel to each other, inner of two slightly broader, the outer gently crenulate. Subterminal fascia dark brown, sinuate, indistinct or absent in some individuals.

MALE GENITALIA ( Figs 44–45). Uncus reduced, fused with tegumen. Tegumen broad with pair of long, cylindrical, apically pointed lateral projections, gently curved inward; their inner surface weakly setose. Gnathos with sparse cluster of spines of varying length, either side of midline. Valve triangular and cleft (about one-third of way along valve). Costa curved ventrad at apex, tapering to blunt point. Sacculus well-defined with curved distal process, rounded at apex. Juxta trapezoid, proximally V-shaped, lateral margins tapering cranially, distally with deep U-shaped concavity. Vinculum V-shaped. Saccus cylindrical, rounded at apex. Phallus as long as valve, gently curved medially; coecum rounded. Vesica with scobination.

Female ( Figs 26–27)

FOREWING LENGTH. 34–37 mm.

Similar to male with no difference in rami length of the antenna. Some individuals with a salmon hue to the hindwing upperside.

Variation

The extent of the discal markings varies greatly from well-marked individuals ( Fig. 23) to those where the markings are almost invisible ( Fig. 25).

Larval foodplant

Unknown.

Molecular characterisation

This species has been assigned two BINs: BOLD:AAO8836 (NW Zambia) and BOLD:AAO8634 (NE Zambia). Intraspecific PWDs were 0.0–4.0% (n = 5), diverging from its nearest neighbour, C. subrosea ( Aurivillius, 1893) comb. nov. by 6.0–6.8% (n = 4).

Distribution ( Fig. 56)

The species is widely distributed in Central Zambezian Miombo woodland habitats in Angola, southern D.R. Congo, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and the extreme south-west of Tanzania, where it appears not to cross beyond the Rukwa Rift. It will likely be present in northern Mozambique and potentially Botswana.

Remarks

The holotype was collected by Paul Pogge on Alexander von Homeyer’s expedition to Angola and southern D.R. Congo under the auspices of the Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Erforschung ÄquatorialAfrikas. Setting off from Luanda in February 1875, the party travelled to Pungo Andongo, where several members of the expedition (including von Homeyer) fell ill. Pogge continued further inland, firstly to Kimbundo with the topographer Anton Lux, who also became incapacitated with illness, before reaching Mussumba, the residence of the ruler of the Lunda Kingdom, Mwata Yamvo in December 1875 ( Pogge 1880). According to Dewitz’s (1879) publication, the holotype was collected between 17° and 22° longitude along the 10 th parallel south, which, when cross-referenced with Pogge (1880), refers to a region between Sanza and Difunda (on the Kasai River), all of which falls within modern-day Angola. For the purposes of placing a point on the distribution map, the midpoint of the aforementioned coordinates, 19°30′ E along Pogge’s route (just to the east of his Kimbundo, approximately 10°12′ S) was selected. The type locality is stated as being from Guinea in some web sources, doubtless due to Dewitz’s (1879: 23) explanation that Pogge “von der Guinea-küste…in’s Innere vordrang [= advanced into the interior… from the Guinea coast]”, even though the word Guinea was not once mentioned by Pogge (1880) in his book. Guinea, or in this instance Niederguinea, referred to the region from Cameroon to Angola in the 19 th Century, as can be seen in many German atlases of the time (e.g., Kiepert et al. 1873).