Gorgyra mocquerysii Holland , 1896

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 : 15-16

Gorgyra mocquerysii Holland, 1896

This species is widespread, but seldom common; it is found from West Africa as far east as western Kenya and south to northern Zambia ( Evans 1937, Larsen 2005). MJWC reared a female in Côte d’Ivoire.

Food plants

MJWC found this species on Agelaea pentagyna (or near) ( Connaraceae ) in Côte d’Ivoire (88/210). A final instar caterpillar and an emerged pupa were collected beside an open track in a patch of forest at Adiopodoumé, near the lagoon. The food plant had large, tough trifoliate leaves.

Leaf shelters

One leaf margin was extensively eaten 2/3 of the distance to the midrib distal and basal to the shelter, which was about ¼ of the distance from the base to the apex of the leaf; the shelter lid was turned over upwards onto the leaf, measured 20 x 15mm, and the edges had started to turn brown.

Caterpillar

The final instar caterpillar ( Figure 16 ) measured 18mm when collected; head rounded, widest in bottom half, 2.35 x 2.94mm wide x high; dull light brown, covered with very short, fine, white setae; body yellowish green, yellower at anterior and posterior ends; anal plate brownish.

Pupa

13mm; abdomen pale, turning dark before eclosion ( Figure 17 ); thorax and head brown; apex of abdomen curved down to cremaster; spatulate bifurcate frontal projection. The pupa eclosed after 18 days.

Figures

FIGURE 16. Final instar caterpillar of Gorgyra mocquerysii, collected 5 Dec 1988 on Agelaea pentagyna (or near), Adiopodoumé, Côte d’Ivoire; photo 6 Dec; pupated 30 Dec; 18mm; 88/210.

FIGURE 17. Gorgyra mocquerysii pupa, collected as final instar caterpillar 5 Dec 1988 on Agelaea pentagyna (or near), Adiopodoumé, Côte d’Ivoire; pupated 30 Dec; photo 16 Jan 1989; emerged 17 Jan; 13mm; 88/210.