Coeliades libeon (Druce)

Cock, Matthew J. W., 2010, Observations on the biology of Afro-tropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) principally from Kenya. Part 1. Introduction and Coeliadinae, Zootaxa 2547, pp. 1-63 : 55-56

Coeliades libeon (Druce)

Food plants reported for this species include Drypetes sp. (Euphorbiaceae) ( Sevastopulo 1974; Larsen 2005a), D. gerrardii ( Pringle et al. 1994) , Cassia , ( Henning et al. 1997; Larsen 2005a), Craibia brevicaudata (Fabaceae) ( Pringle et al. 1994; Henning et al. 1997; Larsen 1991, 2005a), Salacia stuhlmanniana (Celastraceae) and Erythroxylum emarginatum (Erythroxylaceae) ( Vuattoux 1999; Larsen 2005a). This is currently the only species of Coeliades whose recorded food plants do not include species of Malpighiaceae , although Euphorbiaceae and Erythroxylaceae are in the Malpighiales .

Fontaine (1988) provides a brief description of the early stages from Democratic Republic of the Congo ( Zaïre), based on observations in Kinshasa when mature caterpillars were present in their thousands on Millettia sp. (Fabaceae) trees in September 1953.

Caterpillar. About 3–3.5 cm long. Caterpillars rather thin and elongate, the upper surface covered with a very fine brownish down. The dorsal region varies from brown-red to brown-grey, a thin black longitudinal dorsal line edged on each side by a yellowish line. On each segment, a lateral pair of square blackish spots. Thin, yellow, longitudinal spiracle line, bordered on the dorsal side with a wider, dark band. Ventrum black. Head and legs scaly(?) black; prolegs yellowish. (Longueur environ 3 à 3,5 cm. Larves assez grêles et allongées, le dos recouvert d'un très fin duvet brunâtre. La région dorsale varie de brun-rouge à brun-gris, une fine ligne longitudinale médiane noire limitée de chaque côté par une ligne jaunâtre. Sur chaque segment, une paire latérale de taches carrées noirâtres. Ligne stigmatale longitudinale jaune, fine, bordée du côté dorsal d'une bande sombre, plus large. Ventre noir. Tête et pattes écailleuses noires; pattes membraneuses jaunatres.) In contrast, Pringle et al. (1994) and Henning et al. (1997) quote Paré as having reared this species in Zimbabwe and the caterpillar is “lemon-yellow with black chequering”.

The pupa is girdled like that of the Pieridae . It is found either in rolled leaves of the food plant, or on tree trunks and walls. It varies from whitish to grey-black; the wing cases have black lines along the veins. The eyes project, the head has a short frontal spike directed forwards. ( La chrysalide est ceinturée comme celle des Peridae. On la trouve, soit dans les feuilles enroulées de la plante nourricière, soit sur les troncs et les murs. Elle varie de blanchâtre au gris-noir; les étuis des ailes sont rayés de noir à l'emplacement des nervures. Les yeux sont saillants, la tête porte une courte apophyse médiane dirigée vers l'avant.)

The description of the caterpillar with longitudinal stripes as opposed to transverse bands is at variance with all other species of Coeliadinae treated here, and given the difference with the phrasing reported in Pringle et al. (1994), confirmation and illustrations of the early stages of this species are needed. The description of the pupa is similar to that of C. chalybe ( Figure 17 ).

The outbreak described by Fontaine (1988) parallels the repeated outbreaks which Paulian (1963) described in Brazzaville (as summarised by Larsen 2005b), where the caterpillars are a popular food source and market item for the local people. Although caterpillars are a widely-used, popular, and important diet supplement in many parts of Africa (e.g., 10% of protein intake in the Democratic Republic of Congo), these are mostly species of Saturniidae , although large caterpillars of several families are used ( DeFoliart 1999; Malaisse & Lognay 2003). Coeliades libeon seems to be the only species of Hesperiidae that has been reported as a regular food item in Africa, perhaps because this is the only species with large caterpillars which occurs in outbreaks in the areas where caterpillars are eaten. The outbreak of Pyrrhiades a. anchises which I describe above, would have been worth harvesting if there were a local tradition of eating caterpillars in this part of Kenya, particularly if such outbreaks occurred regularly.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Pupa of Coeliades c. chalybe on Acridocarpus longifolius, Adiopodoumé, Côte d’Ivoire, lateral view, 10 Dec 1988 (88/211).