Afriodinia zanzibarica Collins 1990

Bayliss, Julian L., Congdon, T. Colin E., Richardson, Ian D. & Collins, Steve C., 2022, Revision of the A. delicata group of Afriodinia d’Abrera, 2009 (Papilionoidea: Riodinidae) with the description of a new species from Mount Lico, Northern Mozambique, and the reinstatement of a species, Metamorphosis 33 (1), pp. 34-41 : 38

Afriodinia zanzibarica Collins 1990 stat. rev. comb. nov.

Collins, 1990 gives a good description of the facies. On the hindwing the line between the ocelli and the margin is white, not dark grey-brown as in A. delicata tanzania . The ocelli are bordered with a white ring, much wider than in A. delicata tanzania , and set within a narrow grey-brown area, which is much narrower than in A. delicata tanzania .. On the forewing upperside, there is a subapical white band, very diffuse, whereas in A. delicata tanzania it is clearly defined. On the underside, the grey-brown basal area is greatly extended, reducing the discal white area on both wings. In the forewing apical area, the dark brown is almost completely replaced with whitish, leaving only the edges brown, a feature not seen in any other species in the genus.

The gnathos in A. zanzibarica has a sharper angle between the two arms creating “V” shape as opposed to the “U” shape in A. delicata and A. lico . The posterior extremity of the valve is paddle shaped narrowing anteriad as in A. lico , but shorter. In A. delicata , the posterior extremity of the valve does not narrow. The aedeagus in both A. zanzibarica and A. delicata terminates, posteriad, in two projections, the upper being longer than the lower. In A. delicata , however, the lower projection is hooked whereas the hook is not present in A. zanzibarica .

Given the very appreciable difference in the facies, the marked differences in the genitalia ( Figs. 3 & 4 ), and the appreciable size difference between A. zanzibarica and A. delicata , we believe A. zanzibarica is a good species.

Figures

Figure 3 – Comparison of the uncus, gnathos and valve of Afriodinia species and subspecies.a,b,c. Afriodinia lico: ABRI- 2018-4657; Mt Lico, Zambesia, Mozambique; 15°47.538'S; 37°21.783'E, 1000 m; 15–16.v.2018; J. Bayliss. d,e. Afriodinia lico: ABRI-2018-4648; otherwise as for a,b,c. f,g,h. Afriodinia zanzibarica: ABRI-2021-0023; Jozani Forest, Zanzibar, Tanzania; 6.2417°S; 39.4111°E, 12 m; ix.1990; S.C.Collins. i,j,k. Afriodinia zanzibarica: ABRI-2021-0025; otherwise as for f.c.h. but iv.1994; S.C.Collins. l,m,n. Afriodinia delicata delicata: ABRI-2018-4658; River Ruo, Mt Mlanje, Malawi; 15.95°S; 3.5617°E, 900 m; ii.1983; S.C. Collins. p,q,r. Afriodinia delicata tanzania; ABRI-2021-0024; Udzungwa Mts, Tanzania; 7.80°S 36.88°E, 1000 m; iii.2000; T.C.E. Congdon, I. Bampton, P.Walwanda, M. Hassan.

Figure 4 – Comparison of the aedeagi of Afriodinia species and subspecies. a. Afriodinia lico: ABRI-2018-4657; b. Afriodinia lico: ABRI-2018-4648; c. Afriodinia zanzibarica: ABRI-2021- 0023; d. Afriodinia zanzibarica: ABRI-2021-0025; e. Afriodinia delicata delicata: ABRI-2018-4658; f. Afriodinia delicata tanzania; ABRI-2021-0024. Label data as per Fig. 3