Pyrrhiades lucagus (Cramer)

Cock, Matthew J. W., 2010, Observations on the biology of Afro-tropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) principally from Kenya. Part 1. Introduction and Coeliadinae, Zootaxa 2547, pp. 1-63 : 13-14

Pyrrhiades lucagus (Cramer) ( Figure 2 )

I have not encountered this species, but T.B. Larsen, who provides notes on the caterpillar and pupa ( Larsen 2005a), sent me a photograph of the mature caterpillar from Accra ( Figure 2 ), which fed on Acridocarpus sp. (Malpighiaceae) . The form and type of markings do not differ substantially from those of P. a. anchises and most Coeliades spp.

There are specimens of emerged pupae in the dry early stages collection of the Natural History Museum, London, reared March 1949 at Tuguradi (=Takoradi?), Ghana (as Gold Coast). They are reminiscent of those of Coeliades kenya ( Figure 49 ): pale brown with dusting of white waxy powder; black spots on head: one each side of frontal spike, one above the eye and one below the eye, none on collar; T1 spiracle spike dark, with a diagonal dark streak subdorsal to it, further back a black spot subdorsally at highest point of thorax; group of black spots at base of wing; spot at end of cell F; 2 spots on legs T1 and T2 ; abdomen with black spot laterally each segment over spiracle .

Figures

FIGURE 2. Caterpillar of Pyrrhiades lucagus on Acridocarpus sp., Accra, Ghana (T.B. Larsen).

FIGURE 49. Caterpillars of Coeliades sp. probably fervida on unknown food plant, Madagascar (photographs T.C.E. Congdon, ABRI).