Melphinyet tarace Mabille, 1891

Cock, Matthew J. W. & Congdon, Colin E., 2013, Observations on the Biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Part 5. Hesperiinae incertae sedis: Dicotyledon Feeders, Zootaxa 3724 (1), pp. 1-85 : 53-54

Melphinyet tarace Mabille, 1891

Mabille (1891) described this species from Sierra Leone, and it is known from there, east to the Central African Republic ( Larsen 2005). MJWC reared this species in Côte d’Ivoire ( Figures 58–60 ).

Food plants

Two collections, each of one caterpillar (88/207, 89/212) were made on Manniophyton fulvum (#313) ( Euphorbiaceae ) at Forêt de Yapo, Côte d’Ivoire. Although this sprawler-vine with large strongly trilobate leaves was conspicuous and quite common, only one shelter was found on each occasion. The leaves on which the shelters were made were mature, and quite tough, almost scabrous.

Leaf shelters

Both collections were made of final instar caterpillars in similar shelters ( Figure 60 ). A two cut shelter was made from the middle of one side of the apical lobe of a mature leaf; the two straight cuts start far apart (about 70mm) and finish close together (20mm); the shelter lid is 30mm long and 30mm wide, with 4–5 deep notches from the distal edge; folded over upwards, over the mid vein; the caterpillar must feed from the shelter lid, as it is much smaller than the notch cut from the leaf.

Caterpillar

The penultimate instar caterpillar 88/207 measured 18mm when collected; head oval, indent at vertex; 2.2 x 2.4mm high; covered with fine, very short, white setae, widened distally. T1 fairly broad, transverse, dark brown plate. Body dull green with darker dorsal line and yellow-orange gonads A5; T1 legs light brown; all other legs concolorous. The final instar ( Figure 61 ) was similar, but not described; the head was 3.0mm high, and like that of Melphinyet flavina covered with very short, pale setae; those on the face scale-like with narrow base. Body with setae as M. flavina . When mature wax glands formed ventrally A1–A8. This individual died at pupation, but a similar 30mm caterpillar (89/212) was collected the following year and a female reared.

Pupa

The pupa was not described or photographed. That of 89/212 has not been removed from the pupal leaf shelter, but the pupa of 88/207 which died with the final instar larval head capsule stuck over the head of the pupa was examined; it was similar to that of Melphinyet flavina with regard to form, colouring and setae on the eyes.

Figures

FIGURE 58. Adult pinned female Melphinyet tarace, collected as final instar caterpillar on Manniophyton fulvum, Forêt de Yapo, Côte d’Ivoire, 3 Jun 1989; emerged 30 Jun; 89/212.

FIGURE 59. Adult female Melphinyet tarace, collected as final instar caterpillar on Manniophyton fulvum, Forêt de Yapo, Côte d’Ivoire, 3 Jun 1989; emerged and photographed 30 Jun; 89/212.

FIGURE 60. Leaf shelter of final instar caterpillar of Melphinyet tarace on Manniophyton fulvum, Forêt de Yapo, Côte d’Ivoire, 6 Dec 1988; 88/207.

FIGURE 61. Final instar caterpillar of Melphinyet tarace collected on Manniophyton fulvum, Forêt de Yapo, Côte d’Ivoire, 4 Dec 1988; photographed 6 Dec; died at pupation 24 Dec; 18mm; 88/207.