Lepidoptera from Tanzania (1 Viewer)

[Steve Babbs]

There will be more but can any help with this butterfly from Mto Wa Mbu, Tanzania, April 2022?

 

[Owene]

Garden Commodore? (but i have no first hand experience)

 

[Xenospiza]

Precis limnoria (White-spotted Commodore).

 

[Steve Babbs]

Many thanks.

 

[Steve Babbs]

I'm afraid I have no African moth guides so I can't even attempt this one.

 

[Jim M.]

I'm afraid I have no African moth guides so I can't even attempt this one.

iNaturalist suggests Policemen, genus Coeliades

 

[Xenospiza]

iNaturalist suggests Policemen, genus Coeliades

Yes, it's Coeliades anchises, One-pip Policeman (a skipper).

 

[Steve Babbs]

Whoops didn't think of skippers! I'm blaming it on still recovering from the 55 hours it took me to get home. Thanks again, There will be more!

 

[Steve Babbs]

I presume this is a species of handmaiden.

 

[Xenospiza]

Yes, but I don't get any further either. Knock yourself out with this website: AfroMoths
It is daunting...

 

[dantheman]

Commodore? Policeman? Handmaiden? Are all African moths named in similar vein?!? (And named by the Victorian Colonials or more recently? ... Or translations ... can see these changing at some point lol!!)

 

[Xenospiza]

Commodore? Policeman? Handmaiden? Are all African moths named in similar vein?!? (And named by the Victorian Colonials or more recently? ... Or translations ... can see these changing at some point lol!!)

There's quite a tradition to name butterflies hierarchically: Monarch, Emperor, Admiral, Yeoman, Baron, Duke, Coster...
I wonder what those poor Pansies did wrong!

 

[Andy Adcock]

Commodore? Policeman? Handmaiden? Are all African moths named in similar vein?!? (And named by the Victorian Colonials or more recently? ... Or translations ... can see these changing at some point lol!!)

Nowhere near as bad as this one...........

A "Politically Incorrect" Butterfly

The Nigger ( Orsotriaena medus cinerea ) A "Politically Incorrect" Butterfly Amongst amateurs, hobbyists and even serious enthusiasts, it h...

butterflycircle.blogspot.com

 

[Steve Babbs]

It's fair to say The Butterflies of Tanzania isn't great for undersides of butterflies. Any advice on this Acraea appreciated.

 

[Owene]

Possibly?

 

[Xenospiza]

For Acraea's, try this neat key: Le Site des Acraea de Dominique Bernaud

 

[Steve Babbs]

Apparently it's a false Acraea: Pseuadacraea boisduvalii.

 

[Steve Babbs]

Annoyingly I didn't get a proper shot of the upper wing of this Charaxes.

 

[Xenospiza]

Charaxes brutus looks like a good guess.

 

[Steve Babbs]

This looks rather like Sarangesa ruona in Butterflies of Tanzania, especially the forewings. But rather less like it in the SA guide. Arusha NP, Tanzania.