Platylesches shona Evans, 1937

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 : 73

Platylesches shona Evans, 1937

This species was described from a single male from Shamva, Zimbabwe (=Abercorn, north-east Rhodesia) ( Evans 1937). It is now known from Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo, south to Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique ( Kielland 1990; Pringle et al. 1994; Ackery et al. 1995, Heath et al. 2002). In Tanzania, it is found in western areas from Kigoma and Mpanda to Sumbawanga and as far east as Mufindi in the Udzungwas.

Food plants

TCEC found this species on Pa. curatellifolia in Zambia.

Life history

The larvae make silk lined chambers in mature foliage, emerging at night to feed. The shelter is similar in construction to that of Pl. robustus , but is smaller and lacks the external curved tunnel of silk. It is usually found well above the ground. The final instar Pl. shona are similar to those of the penultimate instar of Pl. robustus . Shelters of young Pl. shona and Pl. langa could be confused, except that those of Pl. langa are near the ground, usually adjacent to the characteristic eating pattern of the first and second instars ( Figure 68.1 ).

Figures

FIGURE 68. Life history of Platylesches langa, collected mostly on Parinari capensis but also on Pa. curatellifolia, Mutinondo Wilderness, Mpika, Zambia, and subsequently reared on Pa. curatellifolia, TCEC. 1, early leaf shelters, 17 Sep 2008; 2, leaf shelter of pupa showing entrance valve, 13 Sep 2010; 3–6, mature caterpillar, 28 Jan 2009: 3, dorsal view; 4, lateral view; 5–6, detail of head, frontal view.