Subfamily Heliconiinae.: A largely pantropical group, with one of the five tribes found in the Holarctic Region.
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Tribe Acraeini: There are two Afrotropical genera contained within this tribe; Telchinia and Acraea, both represented at Semuliki. There are 138 described Afrotropical species within this tribe with 104 species recorded in Uganda. At Semuliki a total of 45 species from both genera have been recorded: 25 from the genus Telchinia and 20 species of Acraea, contributing to a third of the Ugandan species total.
Genus Cymothoe: There are 15 species of the Afrotropical genus Cymothoe so far recorded at Semuliki from a.continent total of 78 (Williams, 2018) and a Ugandan total of 17 (Williams, 2015) or 90% of Uganda's total. The two Ugandan species not being recorded at Semuliki being C. distincta and C. indamora, but with both these species being recorded either in the Ituri Forest or Semliki Valley (Ducarme, 2018) it is a distinct possibility that they will also be found in Semuliki. Only three species are frequently sampled in traps and these are C. sangaris, C. cyclades and C. confusa. This genus has been categorised into clades nd the most commonly trapped species C. confusa had a distinctly clumped distribution within Semuliki. Species from this genus were observed more in the forest midstorey as compared to the preference of the forest floor for the genera Bebearia, Euphaedra and Euriphene.
Genus Cymothoe: There are 15 species of the Afrotropical genus Cymothoe so far recorded at Semuliki from a.continent total of 78 (Williams, 2018) and a Ugandan total of 17 (Williams, 2015) or 90% of Uganda's total. The two Ugandan species not being recorded at Semuliki being C. distincta and C. indamora, but with both these species being recorded either in the Ituri Forest or Semliki Valley (Ducarme, 2018) it is a distinct possibility that they will also be found in Semuliki. Only three species are frequently sampled in traps and these are C. sangaris, C. cyclades and C. confusa. This genus has been categorised into clades nd the most commonly trapped species C. confusa had a distinctly clumped distribution within Semuliki. Species from this genus were observed more in the forest midstorey as compared to the preference of the forest floor for the genera Bebearia, Euphaedra and Euriphene.
BUTTERFLY
Research, Conservation and Education
Semuliki National Park, Uganda
FAMILY HESPERIIDAE
A global family that in the Afrotropical region comprises 84 genera and includes 612 species, around 15% of the global species total. Afrotropical species are included within seven subgenera, which are further split into tribes. The majority of Afrotropical species are included within the subfamily Hesperiinae, although the phylogeny within this subgenus has yet to be clarified with certainty.
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To date there have been 109 recorded species: Teniorhinus watsoni a west African species was recorded in error by Davenport and included in the Semuliki butterfly checklist (Forbes, 2018). This total represents just over 60% of the the 171 species recorded for the adjacent Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley (Ducarme, 2018). This suggests targeted sampling would no doubt uncover additional species. A number of genera are completely missing from the species records and would be expected to be present, due to their presence in the DRC Ituri Forest and with Semuliki being a lowland forest. No information on these genera will be presented until official records have been confirmed.
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Genera information for the Family Hesperiidae (with additional Semuliki records from the Forbes (2018) publication) have been taken principally from Larsen's unpublished document on the Hesperiidae Family. Further records have been taken from the Metamorphosis single genus documents published in pdf format by Mark Williams of the African Lepidopterists' Society.
Subfamily Coeliadinae
Of the currently eight allocated genera to this subfamily (phylogeny unresolved) there are four Afrotropical genera: Pyrrhiades, Pyrrhochalcia and Tekliades, each of these genera containing just a single species in west Africa (Pyrrhiades and Pyrrhochalcia) and Madagascar (Tekliades). The other genus is Coeliades, described below.
Genus Coeliades
There are 19 species in the Afrotropical region, eight species have been recorded in Uganda and three in Semuliki: Coeliades forestan, C. chalybe and C. libeon. Two uncommon species recorded in the Ituri Forest of the DRC and also recorded east of Semuliki in Uganda within the Mpanga Forest (C. bixana) and Entebbe (C. hanno), are probably present in Semuliki.
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Coeliades libeon (upper and underside, sexes similar)
Coeliades libeon (underside)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Coeliades chalybe and C. forestan (waiting on field images)
Subfamily Tagiadinae
This subfamily has been split into three tribes: Celaenorrhinini, Netrocorynini and Tagiadini.
Tribe Tagiadini
This includes nine Afrotropical genera.
Genus Eagris
There are ten species within this genus, eight recorded from Uganda with five identified from Semuliki: Eagris lucetia, E. decastigama, E. tetrastigama, E. tigris and E. nottoana. Only two species (E. lucetia and E. decastigama) were included in the Semuliki species checklist (Forbes, 2018).
Eagris tetrastigma (male, underside)
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Eagris lucetia (upper and underside)
Eagris decastigma, E. tigris and E.nottoana (waiting on field images)
Genus Calleagris
A genus containing four species. Of these, two have been recorded in Uganda and both are found at Semuliki; Calleagris hollandi and C. lacteus.
Calleagris hollandi and C. lacteus (waiting on field images)
Genus Tagiades
A genus containing15 species, predominantly from the Indomalayan and Australasian regions. Three species are from the Afrotropical region with only one being recorded in Uganda, that is also found at Semuliki; Tagiades flesus. The other two Afrotropical species are not found on the African mainland and are endemics of Madagascar and the Comoros Islands.
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Tagiades flesus (male, upper and underside)
Tagiades flesus (female, upperside)
Genus Abantis
An Afrotropical genus containing 34 species. Only one has been recorded so far at Semuliki, A. iruma. A disappointing genus total considering the eight species recorded from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley although the majority of species within the group are considered rare.
Abantis iruma (waiting on field image)
Tribe Celaenorrhinini
This includes ten Afrotropical genera, but so far only two genera have species recorded from Semuliki, Sarangesa and Scopulifera. This compares to the eight genera with species recorded from the DRC Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley.
Genus Sarangesa
A genus containing 23 species, 21 found throughout the Afrotropical region. Of the 21 Afrotropical species, ten have been recorded in Uganda with eight from Semuliki. Only two species were detailed in the Semuliki species checklist (Forbes, 2018): Sarangesa brigida and S. lucidella. The six additional records are: S. bouvieri, S. terullianus, S. maculata, S. thecla, S. loelius and S. haplopa.
All eight species (waiting on field images)
Genus Scopulifera
A small Afrotropical genus containing seven species, two recorded from Uganda and one from Semuliki; Scopulifera nigropuncta. This is a new addition to the Semuliki species checklist (Forbes, 2018).
Scopulifera nigropuncta (waiting on field image)
Genus Bettonula
An Afrotropical genus containing only a single species - Bettonula bettoni - recorded from Semuliki. This record is a new addition to the Semuliki species checklist (Forbes, 2018).
Bettonula bettoni (waiting on field image)
Genus Apallaga
A large Afrotropical genus containing 69 species, 11 recorded from Uganda and six so far from Semuliki: Apallaga fulgens, A homeyeri, A. darlustris, A. inexpectata, A. boadicea and A. alluaudi. There have been 15 species recorded from the Ituri Forest and Semliki Valley of the DRC and further species would therefore be expected at Semuliki with targeted sampling. All six species are new additions to the Semuliki species checklist (Forbes, 2018). Many thanks to Michel Libert for identification assistance, see Libert, (2014) for species descriptions and distributions.
Although the specimen below (first two images) has been identified as most probably a male A. alluaudi, it could also be a male A. fulgens. The two species are difficult to separate by differentiating males, but generally the forewing discal band is narrower in A. fulgens and also the males are more orange (second two images - possibly A. fulgens). The females are easier to characterise. This can be seen in the last image where the two sexes are present, the female clearly being an A. alluaadi.
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Apallaga alluaudi - possibly (male, upper and underside)
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Apallaga alluaudi (female above, male below)
Apallaga fulgens - possibly (male, upper and underside)
The specimen below has been identified as most probably a male A. darlustris, but it could also be a male A. inexpectata. The id probability reflecting that A. darlustris is more commonly recorded than A. inexpectata. The two species are difficult to separate solely by differentiating males (genitalia dissection would allow a comparison).
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Apallaga darlustris (male, upper and underside)
Apallaga fulgens, A. alluaudi, A. boadicea A. inexpectata and A. homeyeri (waiting on field images for further confirmation)
Genus Celaenorrhinus
A global genus of which there are 20 Afrotropical species, seven recorded from Uganda and so far only three from Semuliki: Celaenorrhinus proxima, C. perimitans and C. macrostictus. All three species are new additions to the Semuliki checklist (Forbes, 2018). Further targeted sampling would be expected to increase this genus's species presence. The seven species recorded from Uganda have also been recorded from the DRC Ituri Forest or the DRC Semliki Valley.
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Genus Eretis
A small Afrotropical genus containing 12 species with four recorded from Semuliki - E. buamba, E. melania, E. artorius and E.camerona. All four records are new additions to the Semuliki species checklist (Forbes, 2018).
Eretis buamba, E. melania, E. artorius and E. camerona (waiting on field images)
Celaenorrhinus perimitans (upper and underside)
The specimens shown are most likely C. perimitans. The two very similar species recorded at Semuliki (C.perimitans and C. proxima) are difficult to separate, but can be differentiated by a ratio of the maximum wing length divided by the width of the forewing white spot in space 2. The white spot in space 2 of C. proxima is shorter than C. perimitans and therefore the resulting figure from the ratio has been shown to be significantly greater for C. proxima.
Celaenorrhinus perimitans (uppersides)
Celaenorrhiinus macrostictus (waiting on field image)
Tribe Carcharodini
A global tribe that includes five Afrotropical genera, only one genus with a species representative has been recorded from Semuliki.
Genus Spialia
A small Afrotropical genus containing five species, one with a geographical range outside the Afrotropical realm. Only one species has been recorded from Semuliki - S. ploetzi, in comparison to the four species recorded from the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley. S. ploetzi is a new addition to the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018).
Spialia ploetzi (waiting on field image)
Subfamily Hesperiinae
A global subfamily, predominantly Neotropical where it has been split into 13 tribes.
Tribe Hesperiini
A very large global tribe that includes 40 Afrotropical genera, 15 tribes with species recorded from Semuliki.
Genus Lepella
An Afrotropical genus containing a single species recorded from Semuliki: Lepella lepeletier. An additional record to the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018).
Lepella lepeletier (waiting on field image)
Genus Prosopalpus
Another small Afrotropical genus containing three species, one recorded from Semuliki: Prosopalpus styla. An additional record to the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018).
Prosopalpus styla (waiting on field image)
Genus Kedestes
A genus containing 14 species, three recorded from Uganda and one from Semuliki: Kedestes rogersi.
Kedestes rogersi (waiting on field image)
Genus Gorgyra
An Afrotropical genus containing 24 species, nine recorded from Uganda and seven from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley. To date only two have been recorded from Semuliki: Gorgyra diversata and G. mocquerysii, another Hesperiidae genus that is under-represented at Semuliki and could benefit with targeted sampling. These two species are additional records to the Semuliki checklist (Forbes, 2018).
Gorgyra diversata and G. mocquerysii (waiting on field images)
Genus Teniorhinus
A small Afrotropical genus containing four species, two recorded from Uganda, both present at Semuliki: Teniorhinus ignita and T. niger. The species T. watsoni, a west African species had been recorded in error from Semuliki (listed within the checklist (Forbes, 2018)) and has been removed from the current amended species total.
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Teniorhinus ignita (males, undersides)
Teniorhinus ignita 2 field images above by Sven Bontenbal
(Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
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Teniorhinus ignita (female, upper and underside)
Teniorhinus niger (waiting on field image)
Genus Hypoleucis
A small Afrotropical genus containing four species, all being recorded from Uganda with three being recorded from Semuliki: Hypoleucis tripunctata, H. dacena and H. ophiusa. Only H. tripunctata was recorded in the official species list (Forbes, 2018). The unrecorded species O. sophia has only been recorded at Budongo Forest, a submontane forest around 190km north-east of Semuliki.
Hypoleucis tripunctata, H. dacena and H. ophiusa (waiting on field images)
Genus Andronymus
An Afrotropical genus containing 14 species, with six recorded from Uganda and three from Semuliki: Andronymus neander, A. gander and A. caesar. Only one species was detailed in the Semuliki butterfly checklist (Forbes, 2018): A neander. Seven species have been recorded from the Ituri Forest and Semliki Valley DRC and targeted sampling would no doubt increase this genus representation at Semuliki.
Andronymus neander and A. caesar (waiting on field images)
Andronymus gander (underside, sexes similar)
Image by thijsvalkenburg (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Genus Zophopetes
An Afrotropical genus containing seven species, with four recorded from Uganda and these four species also recorded from Semuliki: Zophopetes dysmephila, Z. nobilor, Z. ganda and Z. cerymica; the latter two species being additional records to the Forbes (2018) Semuliki species list publication. The Ugandan species not so far recorded from Semuliki: Zophopetes quaternata has been recorded from the DRC Semliki Valley, so with targeted sampling would likely be found in the park.
Zophopetes dysmephila, Z. cerymica, Z. nobilor and Z. ganda (waiting on field images)
Genus Xanthodisca
A small Afrotropical genus containing three species, with two recorded from Semuliki: Xanthodisca vibius and X. astrape. Both species are additions to the Forbes (2018) publication. Both species have also been recorded from the Ituri Forest
Xanthodisca vibius and X. astrape (waiting on field images)
Genus Fresna
A small Afrotropical genus comprising six species, with three recorded from Semuliki: Fresna joppa, F. nyassae and F. netopha, all additional records not included in the Semuliki species list publication (Forbes, 2018). A further three species have been recorded from the Ituri Forest and targeted sampling at Semuliki should expect to find these.
Fresna nyassae, F. netopha and F .joppa (waiting on field images)
Tribe Baorini
A tribe that includes seven Afrotropical genera.
Genus Borbo
A genus containing 16 species from within the Afrotropical region. Nine species have been recorded from Uganda, with six species present at Semuliki: Borbo fallax, B. micans, B. fatuellus, B. borbonica, B. detecta and B. lugens. Only Borbo fallax was included in the Forbes (2018) species list.
All six species (waiting on field images)
Genus Zenonia
An Afrotropical genus comprising three species, two recorded from Uganda and both recorded from Semuliki: Zenonia zena and Z. crasta. Both records are additional to the Forbes (2018) species list.
Zenonia zena and Z. crasta (waiting on field images)
Genus Pelopidas
A broad Afro-Euroasia genus comprising two species found within the Afrotropical region: P. thrax and P. mathias, both recorded from Semuliki. Both records are additional to the Forbes (2018) species list.
Pelopidas thrax and P. mathias (waiting on field images)
Tribe Ceratrichiini
A tribe that includes seven Afrotropical genera.
Genus Ceratrichia
An Afrotropical genus containing 13 species, six recorded from Uganda, eight from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley and five from Semuliki: Ceratrichia semlikensis, C. wollastoni, C. clara, C. hollandi and C. enta. The latter two species are additional records to the Forbes (2018) checklist.
Ceratricia semlikensis (male, upperside and underside)
Images by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park
Collection - www.observation.org)
Ceratricia hollandi (female, upperside and underside)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Ceratricia clara (female, underside)
C. wollastoni and C. enta (waiting on field images)
Genus Ceratricula
An Afrotropical monotypic genus, the single species being recorded at Semuliki: Ceratricula semilutea.
Ceratricula semilutea (waiting on field image)
Genus Pardaleodes
An Afrotropical genus containing six species, five recorded from Uganda and four from Semuliki: Pardaleodes tibillus, P. sator, P. incerta and P. bule.
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Pardaleodes incerta (male, upperside)
Pardaleodes incerta (male, underside)
Pardaleodes incerta (female, upper and underside)
Pardaleodes sator (male, upper and underside - different specimens)
Upperside image by clicque (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Pardaleodes tibillus and P. bule (waiting on field images)
Genus Ankola
An Afrotropical monotypic genus containing the species Ankola fan which has been recorded at Semuliki. This is an additional record to the Forbes (2018) publication.
Ankola fan (waiting on field image)
Genus Meza
An Afrotropical genus containing ten species, four within Uganda and one recorded from Semuliki: Meza cybeutes. Four species have been recorded from the DRC Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley, including all four recorded from Uganda: M. cybeutes, M. meza, M. indusiata and M. mabillei.
Meza cybeutes (waiting on field image)
Tribe Astictopterini
A large tribe that includes a number Afrotropical genera.
Genus Osmodes
An Afrotropical genus containing 14 species, ten recorded from Uganda and seven from Semuliki: Osmodes laronia, O. thora, O. banghaasi, O. adonia, O. adosus, O. lux and O. hollandi. Only two were included in the Forbes (2018) publication: Osmodes laronia and O. thora, so an additional five records are now known for this genus. An increase of recorded species would have been expected, with nine species of this genus presently recorded from the Ituri Forest.
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Osmodes thora (possibly female, with a lighter underside)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Osmodes laronia (male)
Thanks to Robert Ducarme for Osmodes species identification
Osmodes banghaasi, O. adonia, O. adosus, O. lux and O. hollandi (waiting on field images)
Genus Gamia
An Afrotropical genus containing three species, two recorded from within Uganda and just the one recorded from Semuliki: Gamia shellyi. The other species recorded from Uganda; Gamia buchholzi has been recorded from the DRC Ituri Forest and should be found within the park with targeted sampling.
Gamia shellyi (waiting on field image)
Genus Caenides
An Afrotropical genus containing nine species, three recorded from within Uganda and two from Semuliki: Caenides dacela and C. kangvensis. Only C. dacela was recorded in the published species checklist for the park (Forbes, 2018). The third species recorded from Uganda, C. xychus has been recorded from both the DRC Ituri Forest and Semliki Valley and would be expected to be recorded in the park with targeted sampling.
Caenides dacela and C. kangvensis (waiting on field images)
Genus Monza
A small Afrotropical genus containing three species, all recorded from within Uganda and recorded from Semuliki: Monza punctata, M. cretacea and M. alberti. Only M. punctata was included in the published species checklist for the park (Forbes, 2018) with M. cretacea and M. alberti being additional records.
Monza punctata, M. cretacea and M. alberti (waiting on field images)
Genus Rhabdomantis
A small Afrotropical genus comprising two species, one being recorded from Semuliki: Rhabdomantis galatia. This is an additional record to the publication Forbes (2018). The second species within this genus R. sosia has been recorded in both the Ituri Forest and Semliki Valley DRC and would be expected to be present at Semuliki.
​Rhabdomantis galatia (waiting on field image)
Genus Acleros
An Afrotropical genus containing eight species, five from Uganda and all five so far recorded from Semuliki: Acleros neavei, A. ploetzi, A. nigrapex, A. bibundica and A. mackenii. The latter three species are additional records to that detailed in Forbes (2018).
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
​Acleros mackenii (sexes similar)
Acleros ploetzi, A. neavei, A. nigrapex and A. bibundica (waiting on field images)
Genus Semalea
An Afrotropical genus containing five species with two being recorded from Semuliki: Semalea pulvina and S. sextilis. Both species are additional records to the Forbes (2018) species list.
Semalea pulvina and S. sextilis (waiting on field images)
Genus Paronymus
An Afrotropical genus containing 15 species with one being recorded from Semuliki: Paronymus ligora. Four species have been recorded from the Ituri Forest, including P. ligora and further species would be expected to be found with targeted sampling.
Paronymus ligora (waiting on field image)
Genus Chondrolepis
An Afrotropical genus comprising principally submontane species and therefore as would be expected only one has been recorded at Semuliki: C. niveicornis. This is an additional record to the Forbes (2018) Semuliki species list.
Chondrolepis niveicornis (waiting on field image)
Genus Mopala
An Afrotropical monotypic genus comprising the single species: Mopala orma and recorded from Semuliki; an addition to the species list of Forbes (2018).
Mopala orma (waiting on field image)
Genus Pteroteinon
An Afrotropical genus containing 10 species, five recorded from within Uganda and two recorded from Semuliki: Pteroteinon caenira and P. capronnieri. Both species are additions to the published species list (Forbes, 2018). Seven of the 10 species have been recorded in the adjacent Ituri Forest of the DRC and targeted sampling of further Hesperiidae species would increase the recorded species number within this genus.
Pteroteinon caenira (male, underside)
Pteroteinon caenira (male, underside)
Image by clicque (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Pteroteinon capronnieri (waiting on field image)
Tribe Gretnini
A monotypic tribe that includes the genus Gretna.
Genus Gretna
An Afrotropical genus containing nine species, six recorded from within Uganda and three recorded from Semuliki: Gretna cylinda, G. zaremba and G. carmen. The two species G. zaremba and G. carmen are additions to the Semuliki checklist (Forbes, 2018). Of the three other species recorded from Uganda; Gretna balenge, G. bugoma and G. waga, two have been recorded from the DRC Ituri Forest (G. bugoma being the exception). These two Ituri Forest species should be found within the park with targeted sampling.
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Gretna carmen (male, underside)
Gretna cylinda and G. zaremba (waiting on field images)
Specific references
Ackery, P.R., Smith, C.R. and Vane-Wright, R.I., (1995). Carcasson's African Butterflies: An annotated Catalogue of the Papilionoidea and Hesperioidea of the Afrotropical Region. British Museum (Natural History), London, U.K.
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Cong, Q., et al., (2019). Fifty new genera of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Insecta Mundi 731, pp. 1–56.
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Evans, W.H., (1937). A catalogue of the African Hesperiidae indicating the classification and nomenclature adopted in the British Museum. The British Museum.
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Larsen, T.B., (2015). A revision of the Family Hesperiidae (unpublished document), ABRI, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Libert, M., (2014). Sur la taxonomie du genre Celaenorrhinus Hübner en Afrique (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae). ABRI, Nairobi, Kenya.
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Williams, M.W., (2023). Classification of the Afrotropical butterflies to generic level. Metamorphosis 26, pp 102-108.
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Williams, M.W., (2023). Encyclopaedia of Afrotropical Butterflies (digital edition), Lepidopterists' Society of Africa..
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Zhang, J., et al., (2019). Three new subfamilies of skipper butterflies (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae). Zookeys 861, pp. 91–105.
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Zhang, J., et al., (2022). Taxonomic changes suggested by the genomic analysis of Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera). Insecta Mundi 921.
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Zhu, L., et al., (2023). Mitogenomic phylogenetic analyses provide novel insights into the taxonomic problems of several hesperiid taxa (Lepidoptera: Hesperiidae). Scientific Reports 13, 7901.