Eretis Mabille 1891

COCK, MATTHEW J. W. & CONGDON, T. COLIN E., 2011, Observations on the biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) principally from Kenya. Part 3. Pyrginae: Celaenorrhinini, Zootaxa 3033 (1), pp. 1-67 : 35-36

Eretis Mabille 1891

This genus, which is based on E. melania (Mabille) , is restricted to Africa. Of the eleven known species, six are found in Kenya. As far as is known all species feed on Acanthaceae . Their most distinctive feature is the irregular margin of the hind wings. They are all small, brown or blackish species, often with paler scales overlaid. Identifications can be made on external characters, but without named reference material, it may be necessary to examine the male genitalia, which offer good characters.

The type series of E. herewardi was reared by Hereward Clune Dollmann ( Riley 1921): “Never caught on the lished, quoted by Riley 1921). Although E. herewardi has been reported from Kenya, the Kenyan material has now been described as E. artorius Larsen & Cock (2011) and is treated briefly below.

Sevastopulo (1975) lists the food plant of E. djaelaelae (Wallengren) as Asystasia , although Sevastopulo (unpublished) did not rear this species himself and this food plant does not seem to have been confirmed. Clark (in Dickson & Kroon 1978, Plate 6) illustrates the detailed life history of E. djaelaelae , although as presented there seems to be doubt as to whether the species shown may not be E. umbra umbra (Trimen) . However, the white forelegs shown in Clark’s plate do suggest E. djaelaelae is correct (see discussion under E. umbra below), and Henning et al. (1997) treat it as E. djaelaelae . From South Africa, Murray (1959) gives Dianthera trisulcata (= Chaetacanthus setiger and C. persoonii ) ( Acanthaceae ). The food plants given in the text of Dickson & Kroon (1978) are Phaulopsis imbricata , D. trisulcata (= Chaetacanthus setiger ), Dyschoriste sp. and Justicia sp. (all Acanthaceae ). Kielland (1990) repeats these records, but referring to? Barleria setiger . Henning et al. (1997) add J. protracta to the list of food plants. Heath et al. (2002) repeat these food plants.

Larsen (2005) suggests that the food plants of E. plistonicus (Plötz) , a West African species, are “Acanthaceous weeds” based on his field observations.