Apallaga Strand, 1911

Collins, Steve C., 2017, Observations on the biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Part 12. New information and corrections, Zootaxa 4312 (3), pp. 471-496 : 484

Apallaga Strand, 1911

Libert (2014) re-established the genus Apallaga Strand , with type species A. mokeezi , for a monophyletic group based on barcodes that includes the species with orange markings as well some black and white species of similar biology, but proved far more complex and species-rich than previous treatments ( Evans 1937, Ackery et al. 1995). Libert (2014) recognised 12 clades within Apallaga , of which we have reared representatives of the galenus clade ( A. opalinus (Butler) , A. kakamegae Libert, A. biseriata (Butler)) and kimboza clade ( A. sanjeensis Kielland ) only. In Cock & Congdon (2011b, Figure 34) we illustrated an adult as Celaenorrhinus intermixtus evansi Berger. Based on Libert (2014) this is A. lourentis (de Jong) , but we note that Libert’s A. lourentis has an identical barcode to his A. evansi (Berger) (barcodes in BOLD), suggesting that A. lourentis will prove to be a synonym or subspecies of A. evansi .

Libert (2014) illustrates four caterpillars and three pupae of the galenus clade from TCEC’s work in Tanzania ( Table 1). We have associated these with their corresponding caterpillars, pupae and, where possible, adults ( Figures 15–17 ), and clarified some identifications.

Figures

FIGURE 15. Caterpillar, pupa and adult of Apallaga alluaudi (or perhaps A. biseriata maculata), collected on Hypoestes forskaolii, Mngeta, Kilombero, Tanzania [TCEC]. 1 – 3, final instar caterpillar, dorsolateral and two dorsal views; 4 – 5, pupa lateral and dorsal views; 6, pinned adult male. Image 1 of the caterpillar was presented as A. alluaudi in Libert (2014, plate 26.3).

FIGURE 16. Caterpillar, pupa and adult of Apallaga biseriata maculata, collected on Hypoestes forskaolii, Lufusi River, Tanzania, 2 May 2014 [TCEC]. 1, final instar caterpillar, dorsal view; 2 – 3, pupa, dorsal and lateral views; 4, pinned adult male. Image 1 of the caterpillar and 3 of the pupa were presented as A biseriata in Libert (2014, plate 26.5).

FIGURE 17. Caterpillar, pupa and adult of Apallaga biseriata maculata, collected on Hypoestes forskaolii, Rubeho, Tanzania, 15 Jun 2014 [TCEC]. 1 – 2, final instar caterpillar, dorsolateral and dorsal views; 3 – 4, pupa lateral and dorsal views; 5, pinned adult female. Image 1 of the caterpillar and 3 of the pupa were presented as A. sp. Lufusi in Libert (2014, plate 26.6, 12), but the name applied here is based on the barcode (MLIB- 1342).