Iolaus Hübner, [1819]

Sáfián, Szabolcs, 2022, Iolaus freyaallanae sp. nov. (Papilionoidea: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) - a new species from Zambia in the genus Iolaus Hübner, [1819], subgenus Iolaphilus Stempffer & Bennett, 1958, Metamorphosis 33 (1), pp. 72-78 : 73

Genus Iolaus Hübner, [1819]

Verzeichniss bekannter Schmetterlinge: 81.

Type-species: Papilio eurisus Cramer , by subsequent designation.

Subgenus Iolaphilus Stempffer & Bennett, 1958 Bulletin de l’Institut Français d’Afrique Noire (A) 20: 1298. Type-species: Iolaus menas Druce , by original designation.

The Iolaus gabunica species group

A group of medium-sized Iolaus , tentatively placed in the subgenus Iolaphilus , with unique genitalia, having narrow valvae with a lanceolate tip, characteristic Y-shaped fultura inferior and a small protrusion dorsally at approximately halfway on the straight and lanceolate aedeagus ( Fig. 1 ). Males of all species have a uniformly black, circular androconial patch on the hindwing upperside, some with a larger black or dark grey outer ring. The androconial hairtuft on the forewing underside is also black. All species recognised in the group are known to occur in forests, including lowland rainforest, submontane and riverine forests. It is proposed here that they collectively belong to the Iolaus gabunica species group, with the following members:

Figures

Figure 1 – Male genitalia of Iolaus gabunica, re-drawn from Stempffer & Bennett’s original (1958): uncus, subunci and tegumen – A; valvae and fultura inferior – B (note that from the ventral view the valvae and fultura – misleadingly – look fused, on Fig. 4B the separate valvae and fultura – fused only at the base – are clearly visible); aedeagus – C.