Celaenorrhinus handmani Collins & Congdon 1998

COCK, MATTHEW J. W. & CONGDON, T. COLIN E., 2011, Observations on the biology of Afrotropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) principally from Kenya. Part 3. Pyrginae: Celaenorrhinini, Zootaxa 3033 (1), pp. 1-67 : 32-34

Celaenorrhinus handmani Collins & Congdon 1998 (in Congdon & Collins 1998) ( Figures 31–33 )

This recently described species is known from southern Kenya, Tanzania, northern Malawi, eastern Zambia and northern Mozambique. It is a butterfly of forests and forest margins, mostly in forests above 1700 m throughout Tanzania. Celaenorrhinus handmani is a moderate to high altitude species (it goes down to 1450 m on Mt Mabu in

Mozambique, but at that latitude the altitude is equivalent to 1800 or more at the equator). In contrast, C. g. biseriata seems to go no higher than the Chyulu Hills and Kibwezi, so that their ranges do not overlap.

TCEC has found this species on Hypoestes forskaolii (Acanthaceae) . It is possible that this species uses other soft leaved Acanthaceae , although he could not find any shelters on the Justicia pinguior which was growing commonly where he found the caterpillars.

Leaf shelters

The caterpillar makes two-cut shelters similar to those of other Celaenorrhinus spp. The lid of the shelter remains green, attached to the leaf by a vein, and the caterpillar habitually rests on the underside of the lid of its shelter ( Figure 31.2 ).

Caterpillar We cannot distinguish the final instar caterpillar (Figure 32) from that of C. galenus biseriata ( Figure 29 ).

The pupa ( Figure 33 ) is very similar to that of C. galenus opalinus and C. galenus biseriata , and we can point to no distinguishing features.

Discussion

Clearly C. galenus opalinus , C. galenus biseriata and C. handmani are very similar, and closely related. There are no reliable distinguishing features that we could observe in the early stages. It will be interesting to see whether other species similar in adult appearance, e.g. C. intermixtus also fit this pattern.

Figures

FIGURE 29. Caterpillar of Celaenorrhinus galenus biseriata. 1, n–2 instar caterpillar cutting stage 2 shelter; collected as n–3 caterpillar on Hypoestes forskaolii, Shimba Hills, 30 Mar 1989; photographed 1 May 1989; parasitized by Apanteles (s.l.) sp. 2; 89/24B. 2, detail of final instar head, collected as n–2 caterpillar on H. forskaolii (MJWC 070), Shimba Hills, 13 Dec 1989; moulted to final instar 26 Dec; photographed 27 Dec, 20 mm; parasitized by Apanteles (s.l.) sp. 2 in final instar; 89/101. 3, final instar, dorsolateral view; collected as n–2 caterpillar on Hypoestes sp. (probably H. forskaolii), Kibwezi Forest, 31 Dec 1989; moulted to final instar 10 Jan 1990; photographed 22 Jan, 28 mm; pupated 28 Jan; male emerged 6–9 Feb; 89/108A. 4, detail of final instar head; as (3).

FIGURE 31. Leaf shelters of Celaenorrhinus handmani on Hypoestes forskaolii, Mufindi, 1850 m, Tanzania (TCEC).

FIGURE 33. Pupa of Celaenorrhinus handmani collected on Hypoestes forskaolii, Mufindi, Tanzania (TCEC). 1, 14 Jan 2009, dorsal view. 2, 13 Jan 2002, lateral view.