Perrotia

Cock, Matthew J. W. & Congdon, T. Colin E., 2014, Observations on the biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Part 7. Hesperiinae incertae sedis: grass and bamboo feeders, Zootaxa 3872 (4), pp. 301-354 : 327

Perrotia discussion

The fact that several caterpillars were found of the extremely rare species in collections, P. albiplaga , may have been a freak event, but more likely indicates that early stages are more easily located than adults in this species. This could also apply to other apparently rare Madagascan endemics. The striking caterpillar central head marking is not matched in any other African Hesperiinae as far as we are aware, but is more reminiscent of Kedestes spp. (e.g. Figure 5 ) and Moltena fiara (Butler) ( Henning et al. 1997, TCEC unpublished) than other genera. The black anal plate in instar n-2 is not a common feature amongst African Hesperiinae , but is found in M. fiara , K. niveostriga schloszi (above), K. callicles ( Figure 7 ) and we have seen a similar marking in Metisella (Heteropterinae) . The extensive dark markings of the pupa are reminiscent of Kedestes spp. ( Figure 6 ), rather than members of the Ploetzia group (below, Cock et al. 2014). We hesitate to suggest any phylogenetic links based on these superficial similarities.

Figures

FIGURE 5. Detail of head of final instar of Kedestes wallengrenii wallengrenii, collected on Cymbopogon sp., Mufindi, Tanzania [TCEC]. 1, anterior view, 20 Jan 2013; 2, lateral view, 18 Jan 2013.

FIGURE 6. Pupa of Kedestes wallengrenii wallengrenii, collected on Cymbopogon sp., Mufindi, Tanzania; photographed 30 Jan 2013 [TCEC]. 1, dorsal view; 2, lateral view.

FIGURE 7. Probably Kedestes callicles caterpillar collected on Enteropogon macrostachyus, Kibwezi, Kenya, 21 Jan 1990; photographed 22 Jan; died; 90 / 13.