Subfamily Heliconiinae.: A largely pantropical group, with one of the five tribes found in the Holarctic Region.
​
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 LYCAENIDAE
A global family that in the Afrotropical region comprises 123 genera and includes 1814 species. The family is divided into seven subfamilies, six of which have species located within the Afrotropical region. Each of these subfamilies is divided into a number of tribes. Only five subfamilies are represented at Semuliki, however Ducarme (2018) has recorded species representatives in all six subfamilies within the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley. The lack of records for this group in the park is predominantly due to the lack of focused and extended location sampling for this group.
​
A complete phylogenetic classification for this family has yet to be completed. The phylogeny of the subfamily Poritiinae has been guided by Boyle et al. (2023). In addition numerous Afrotropical genera in the tribe Polyommatini have also not been assigned subtribal status (Williams, 2015). Identification of Lycaenidae species in the field is in many cases impossible and species can only be identified from genitalia dissection. Where it states for species (waiting on field images), this is for website consistency and does not suggest a field identification. A pinned specimen from a collection would also be appropriate.
​
Entomophagy occurs in both Family Riodidinae, but most prominently in Lycaenidae where it has evolved independently on many occasions in the course of this groups evolution, occurring in at least 31 genera from four subfamilies (Espeland et al., 2023). Increasingly extreme historical environmental conditions with fire or aridification may have created the necessary triggers in the transfer into ant nests (Fiedler, 1998).
Further genera information for the Family Lycaenidae has been taken from the Metamorphosis single genus documents published in pdf format by Mark Williams of the African Lepidopterists' Society.
Subfamily Poritiinae
A highly diverse group divided into two tribes within geographical regions: an Asian endemic tribe, Poritiini and an African endemic tribe; Liptenini. The caterpillars from this subfamily feed on the algae found in one of the three types of morphological lichens, the foliate lichen. The Afrotropical Liptenini tribe is divided into six subtribes: Durbaniina, Epitolina, Liptenina, Iridanina, Pentilina and Cooksoniina.
Subtribe Pentilina
This subtribe includes a number of genera including the following found at Semuliki: Pentila, Ptelina, Telipna and Ornipholidotos.
Genus Telipna. A genus containing 28 species, 10 being recorded in Uganda. The genus has been divided into groups and subgroups (Libert, 2005). Seven species have so far been recorded at Semuliki (Libert, 2005), three more than documented than in the species list by Forbes (2018). The three species missing are: Telipna acraea, T. citrimaculata and T. erica. This genus has an association with ant species (genus Crematogasta - 24 Ugandan species and genus Camponotus - 23 Ugandan species), the caterpillars producing secretions that the ants feed on while providing protection for the caterpillar. Telipna species geographical distribution is therefore dependent on the presence of ant colonies, although taxonomic diversity of lycaenid-ant associations in the Afrotropical region is low (Fielder, 2021).
All pinned images below by Harald Selb (Harald Selb, Semuliki National Park Collection)
Telipna aurivillii jefferyi (Jackson, 1969)
-ink.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Telipna aurivillii (female, upper and underside, sexes similar)
Telipna sanguinea depuncta (Talbot, 1937)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink-ink.jpeg)
Telipna sanguinea (female, upper and underside, sexes similar)
Telipna nyanza katangae (Stempffer, 1961)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
Telipna nyanza (male, upper and underside, sexes similar)
Telipna consanguinea consanguinea (Rebel, 1914)
Telipna consanguinea (waiting on field images)
Telipna acraea nigrita (Jackson, 1969)
Telipna acraea (waiting on field images)
Telipna citrimaculata neavei (Bethune-Baker, 1926)
Telipna citrimaculata (waiting on field images)
Telipna erica (Suffert, 1904)
Telipna erica (waiting on field images)
Genus Pentila. A genus containing 48 species with 11 species being recorded from Uganda, seven so far have been recorded from Semuliki: Pentila pauli, P. umangiana, P. inconspicua, P. tachyroides, P. cloetensi, P. hiendlmayri and P. hybrida. The genus Liptenara which included Liptenara hiendlmayri has been reclassified as a junior synonym of genus Pentila (Libert and Collins, 2019) and thus the species L. hiendlmayri as recorded in the Forbes (2018) publication has changed to P. hiendlmayri. P. hybrida is also an additional record not identified in Forbes (2018), but detailed in Libert and Collins (2019) as being recorded at Semuliki. This genus, like Telipna, has an ant association.
Pentila pauli clarensis (Neave, 1903)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
Pentila pauli (female, upper and underside, sexes similar)
Pentila umangiana connectens (Hulstaert, 1924)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
Pentila umangiana (male, upper and underside, sexes similar)
Pentila inconspicua (Druce, 1910)
c_edited.png)
d_edited.jpg)
Pentila inconspicua (male, upper and underside)
a_edited.jpg)
Pentila inconspicua (female, upperside)
b_edited.jpg)
Pentila inconspicua (female, underside)
Pentila inconspicua (waiting on field images)
Pentila cloetensi catauga (Rebel, 1914)
d.jpeg)
a_edited_edited.png)
Pentila cloetensi (male, upper and underside)
b.jpeg)
Pentila cloetensi (female, upperside)
c_edited.jpg)
Pentila cloetensi (female, underside)
Pentila cloetensi (waiting on field images)
Pentila tachyroides tachyroides (Dewitz, 1879)
-ink.jpeg)
A-ink.jpeg)
Pentila tachyroides (female, upper and underside)
Pentila hiendlmayri (Dewitz, 1887)
Pentila hiendlmayri (waiting on field images)
Pentila hybrida (Libert and Collins, 2019)
Pentila hybrida (waiting on field images)
Genus Ptelina. A small genus comprising only two species. Only Ptelina carnuta has been recorded in Uganda and also at Semuliki, although P. subhyalina has been recorded in both the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley (Ducarme, 2024).
Ptelina carnuta kamitugensis (Dufrane, 1946)
b_edited_edited.jpg)
Ptelina carnuta (male, upper and underside)
Genus Ornipholidotos. A large genus comprising 61 species. There have been 13 species recorded in Uganda but only five so far at Semuliki: Ornipholidotos overlaeti, O. jacksoni, O. ugandae, O. ntebi and O. paradoxa. The latter three species are an addition to the two species recorded in the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018). Ducarme (2018) has recorded 16 species in the area of the north-east of the DRC of which 15 have been located within the Ituri Forest or Semliki Valley of the DRC, O. aureliae being the exception. This suggests further targeted and extended location sampling of this genus is required to find the true representation of species diversity at Semuliki. The majority of these species can only be identified by genital dissection. Male structures are highly specialised with unique configurations and are mostly stable within species.
Ornipholidotos sp.
Ornipholidotos sp. (underside)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Ornipholidotos jacksoni jacksoni (Stempffer, 1961)
b.jpeg)
a.jpeg)
Ornipholidotos jacksoni (male, upper and underside)
Ornipholidotos overlaeti intermedia (Libert, 2005)
Ornipholidotos overlaeti (waiting on field images)
Ornipholidotos ugandae ugandae (Stempffer, 1947)
Ornipholidotos ugandae (waiting on field images)
Ornipholidotos nbeti (Libert, 2006)
Ornipholidotos nbeti (waiting on field images)
Ornipholidotos paradoxa orientis (Libert, 2005)
Ornipholidotos paradoxa (waiting on field images)
Subtribe Liptenina
A large tribe which includes nine genera so far with species recorded from Semuliki and 16 genera recorded from north-eastern DRC. The following recorded genera at Semuliki will be described: Liptena, Tetrarhanis, Falcuna, Larinopoda, Micropentila, Citrinophila, Toxochitona, Mimacraea and Mimeresia.
Genus Liptena. A large genus comprising 72 species with six being recorded at Semuliki. The three newly recorded species but missing from the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018) are Liptena flavicans, L. decipiens and L. batesana. This compares with the 18 species described from Uganda and the 21 species recorded from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley. Associated with forest in good condition, this is another under-sampled Lycaenidae genus at Semuliki that requires a concerted effort to identify the total diversity of species found in the park.
Liptena xanthostola xantha (Grose-Smith, 1901)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Liptena xanthostola (male, upper and underside)
Liptena praestans (Schultze, 1923)
a.jpeg)
b.jpeg)
Liptena praestans (male, upper and underside)
c.jpeg)
Liptena praestans (female, upperside)
d.jpeg)
Liptena praestans (female, underside)
Liptena decipiens leucostola (Holland, 1890)
Liptena decipiens (female, upper and underside)
Liptena opaca ugandana (Stempffer, Bennett and May, 1974)
Liptena opaca (waiting on field images)
Liptena batesana (Bethune-Baker, 1926)
Liptena batesana (waiting on field images)
Liptena flavicans praeusta (Schultze, 1917)
Liptena flavicans (waiting on field images)
Genus Tetrarhanis. A small genus comprising 15 species with two being recorded at Semuliki: Tetrarhanis ilala and T. ilma. Three species have been recorded in Uganda with T. stempfferi so far not being recorded at Semuliki, although it has been recorded in the Ituri Forest but only in the Labwor Hills in northern Uganda. Again these two species are associated with forest in good condition.
Tetrarhanis ilma ugandae (Stempffer, 1964)
Tetrarhanis ilma (male, undersides)
Tetrarhanis ilma (female, upperside)
Tetrarhanis ilma (female, underside)
Field mages by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Tetrarhanis ilala ilala (Riley, 1929)
Tetrarharnis ilala (waiting on field images)
Genus Falcuna. A genus comprising 16 species with four being recorded at Semuliki: Falcuna margarita, F. orientalis, F. kasai and F. iturina. The latter two are additions to the species list publication (Forbes, 2018).
Falcuna margarita (Suffert, 1904)
Falcuna margarita (male, underside)
Falcuna orientalis bwamba (Stempffer and Bennett, 1963)
a.jpeg)
b.jpeg)
Falcuna kasai (male, upper and underside)
Falcuna iturina (Stempffer and Bennett, 1963)
Falcuna iturina (waiting on field images)
Falcuna kasai (Stempffer and Bennett, 1963)
Falcuna kasai (waiting on field images)
Genus Larinopoda. A genus comprising only six species with two being recorded at Semuliki: Larinopoda tera and L. lagyra. These two species are also the only Larinopoda species recorded in Uganda.
Larinopoda tera (Hewitson, 1873)
c.jpeg)
Larinopoda tera (male, upper and underside)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park
Collection - www.observation.org)
Larinopoda lagyra lagyra (Hewitson 1866)
a.jpeg)
b.jpeg)
Larinopoda lagyra (male, upper and underside)
Genus Micropentila. A genus comprising 34 species with only one so far recorded from Semuliki and a new addition to the Forbes, (2018) species list: Micropentila fontainei. 13 species (including M. fontainei) have been recorded from the adjacent Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley (Ducarme, 2024), so targeted and extended location sampling of this genus at Semuliki would undoubtedly increase species records.
Micropentila fontainei (Stempffer and Bennett, 1965)
Micropentila fontainei (waiting on field images)
Genus Citrinophila. A genus comprising seven species with two species so far being recorded at Semuliki: Citrinophila erastus and C. tenerea. The latter species is missing from the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018). One further species has been recorded in Uganda, C. unipunctata although a specific location has not been reported. Together with another species, C. terias all four species have been recorded in the Ituri Forest in the DRC while C. unipunctata has also been recorded in the DRC Semliki Valley.
Citrinophila erastus pallida (Hawker-Smith, 1933)
Citrinophila erastus (male, upper and underside)
-ink%20(1).jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
Citrinophila tenerea (Kirby, 1887)
Citrinophila tenerea (waiting on field images)
Genus Toxochitona. A small genus comprising four species, with one being recorded at Semuliki: Toxochitona sankuru. All four species have been recorded within Uganda, but only T. gerda is likely to be added to the Semuliki species list, having been recorded in the neighbouring Ituri Forest in the DRC.
Toxochitona sankuru (Stempffer, 1961)
Toxochitona sankuru (waiting on field image)
Genus Mimacraea. A genus comprising 20 species, four being recorded at Semuliki: Mimacraea landbecki, M. krausei, M. telloides and M. fulvaria. This comprises 80% of the five species recorded in Uganda. The Butterflies of Semuliki (Forbes, 2018) only lists two species being recorded; the two additional records: M. telloides and M. fulvaria are the additions.
Mimacraea krausei krausei (Dewitz, 1889)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
Mimacraea krausei (male, sexes similar)
Mimacraea landbecki (Druce, 1910)
Mimacraea landbecki (waiting on field images)
Mimacraea fulvaria fulvaria (Aurivillius, 1895)
Mimacraea fulvaria (waiting on field images)
Mimacraea telloides (Schultz, 1923)
Mimacraea telloides (waiting on field images)
Genus Mimeresia. A small genus comprising 13 species, two so far being recorded at Semuliki: Mimeresia drucei and M. moreelsi. Seven species have been recorded in Uganda and seven recorded from the Ituri Forest in the DRC, so a group that is likely under-recorded at Semuliki.
Mimeresia drucei ugandae (Stempffer, 1954)
Mimeresia drucei (male, upper and underside)
-ink%20(1).jpeg)
Mimeresia moreelsi purpurea (Hawker-Smith, 1933)
Mimeresia moreelsi (waiting on field images)
Subtribe Iridanina
A small subtribe containing only two genera: Iridana and Teratoneura. Three of the 26 species from the genus Iridana are recorded from Semuliki.
Genus Iridana. The three species being recorded at Semuliki are Iridana bwamba, I. obscura and I. katera.
Iridana bwamba (Stempffer, 1964)
Iridana bwamba (waiting on field images)
Iridana obscura (Stempffer, 1964)
Iridana obscura (waiting on field images)
Iridana katera (Stempffer, 1964)
Iridana katera (waiting on field images)
Subtribe Epitolina
A subtribe containing 15 genera. Records from eight genera have been recorded to date although this will be quite an under estimation. This is in comparison to 14 of the genera having species being recorded in the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley.
Genus Epitola. A small genus comprising five species, two being recorded at Semuliki: Epitola urania and E. uranoides. Both these species have also been recorded from the Ituri Forest in the DRC. The other three species are found in the west of the continent.
Epitola uranoides uranoides (Libert, 1999)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Epitola uranoides (male, upper and underside)
Epitola urania (Kirby, 1887)
Epitola urania (waiting on field images)
Genus Cerautola. An Afrotropical genus comprising 13 species, eight being recorded in Uganda and three recorded at Semuliki: Cerautola mittoni, C. subargentea and C. crowleyi. The latter species is an addition to the published species list (Forbes, 2018). Another Lycaenidae genus that is more than likely under-represented with seven species being recorded within the adjoining Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley.
Cerautola subargentea subargentea (Jackson, 1965)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Cerautola subargentea (male, upper and underside)
.jpeg)
Cerautola subargentea (female, upperside)
.jpeg)
Cerautola subargentea (female, underside)
Cerautola mittoni (Jackson, 1964)
Cerautola mittoni (waiting on field images)
Cerautola crowleyi holochroma (Berger, 1981)
Cerautola crowleyi (waiting on field images)
Genus Geritola. A genus confined to the forest equatorial zone. It comprises 20 species, seven being recorded in Uganda and four recorded at Semuliki: Geritola cynaea, G. dubia, G. liana and G. zelica. The latter three species are additional to the single Geritola species (Geritola cyanea) recorded in the published species list. All Semuliki recorded species have also been recorded in the Ituri Forest, the exceptions being G. kivuana and G. gerina and with targeted and extended location sampling both these species are more than likely present at Semuliki too. A myrmecophilous genus where these butterfly species develop a mutualistic association with ants from the genus Crematogaster.
Geritola cynaea (Jackson, 1964)
Geritola cynaea (waiting on field images)
Geritola liana (Roche, 1954)
Geritola liana (waiting on field images)
Geritola dubia dubia (Jackson, 1964)
Geritola dubia (waiting on field images)
Geritola zelica viridis (Libert, 2020)
Geritola zelica (waiting on field images)
Genus Stempfferia. A large genus comprising 51 species, 12 being recorded in Uganda with eight at Semuliki. This is six more additional records than documented in Forbes (2018), these being: Stempfferia badura, S. cercene, S. ciconia, S. congoana, S. insulana and S. sylviae. In contrast 15 species have been recorded within the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley suggesting that this genus is under-represented at Semuliki.
Stempfferia cecercenoides (Holland, 1890)
Stempfferia cecerenoides (waiting on field images)
Stempfferia tumentia (Druce, 1910)
Stempfferia tumentia (waiting on field images)
Stempfferia badura contrasta (Libert, 1999)
Stempfferia badura (waiting on field images)
Stempfferia cercene (Hewitson, 1873)
Stempfferia cercene (waiting on field images)
Stempfferia congoana orientalis (Libert, 2020)
Stempfferia congoana (waiting on field images)
Stempfferia ciconia mongiro (Jackson, 1968)
Stempfferia ciconia (waiting on field images)
Stempfferia insulana (Aurivillius, 1923)
Stempfferia insulana (waiting on field images)
Stempfferia sylviae (Libert, 1999)
Stempfferia sylviae (waiting on field images)
Genus Cephetola. An extensive genus comprising 69 species, 24 being recorded in Uganda with 10 at Semuliki. This is eight more than documented in Forbes (2018) the additional records being: Cephetola entebbeana, C. cephenoides, C. maculata, C. viridana, C. orientalis, C. kamengensis, C. mpangensis and C. dolorosa. In contrast 21 species have been recorded within the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley suggesting that this genus is under-represented at Semuliki. Future sampling should concentrate on this genus along with other under-recorded Lycaenidae genera.
Cephetola bwamba (Jackson, 1964)
Cephetola bwamba (waiting on field images)
Cephetola pinodes budduana (Talbot, 1937)
Cephetola pinodes (waiting on field images)
Cephetola entebbeana (Bethune-Baker, 1926)
Cephetola entebbeana (waiting on field images)
Cephetola cephenoides (Libert, 2020)
Cephetola cephenoides (waiting on field images)
Cephetola maculata (Hawker-Smith, 1926)
Cephetola maculata (waiting on field images)
Cephetola viridana (Joicey and Talbot, 1921)
Cephetola viridana (waiting on field images)
Cephetola orientalis (Roche, 1954)
Cephetola orientalis (waiting on field images)
Cephetola kamengensis subgriseata (Jackson, 1964)
Cephetola kamengensis (waiting on field images)
Cephetola mpangensis mpangensis (Jackson, 1962)
Cephetola mpangensis (waiting on field images)
Cephetola dolorosa (Roche, 1954)
Cephetola dolorosa (waiting on field images)
Genus Epitolina. A small genus comprising only five species. Three species have been recorded from Uganda, but so far only two have been recorded at Semuliki. It is more than likely, with targeted sampling, the additional Ugandan recorded species E. catori, also recorded by Ducarme (2024) as being present in the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley, should also be present in the park.
Epitolina melissa (Druce, 1888)
a.jpeg)
Epitolina melissa (male, upper and underside)
Epitolina dispar (Kirby, 1887)
Epitolina dispar (waiting on field images)
Genus Phytala. A genus comprising one species, Phytala elais.
Phytala elais ugandae (Jackson, 1964)
Phytala elais (male, upper and underside)
Phytala elais (female, upperside)
b.jpeg)
Phytala elais (female, underside)
Genus Hewitsonia. A genus comprising 15 species, four being recorded at Semuliki, 80% of the Ugandan total. Only three were listed in the Semuliki species list publication (Forbes, 2018), the additional record being Hewitsonia kuehnei.
Hewitsonia intermedia (Jackson, 1962)
Hewitsonia intermedia (male, upper and underside)
b.jpeg)
a.jpeg)
Hewitsonia intermedia (female, upperside)
Hewitsonia intermedia (female, underside)
Hewitsonia inexpecta (Bouyer, 1997)
a.jpeg)
b.jpeg)
Hewitsonia inexpecta (male, upper and underside)
Hewitsonia ugandae ugandae (Jackson, 1962)
a.jpeg)
B.jpeg)
Hewitsonia ugandae (male, upper and underside)
a.jpeg)
Hewitsonia ugandae (female, upperside)
b.jpeg)
Hewitsonia ugandae (female, underside)
Hewitsonia kuehnei (Collins and Larsen, 2008)
Hewitsonia kuehnei (waiting on field images)
Genus Powellana. A monotypic genus comprising the species Powellana cottoni. Missing from the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018) but recorded from Semuliki and also from the Ituri Forest and the Semliki Valley of the DRC.
Powellana cottoni (Bethune-Baker, 1908)
Powellana cottoni (waiting on field images)
Subfamily Miletinae
A subfamily with global representation, except in the Neotropics. Currently systematics describe four tribes (Lachnocnemini,
Spalgini, Miletini and Liphyrini) with representative genera from the Afrotropics within each tribe. Larvae and adults have an ant association.
Tribe Lachnocnemini
This tribe contains two Afrotropical genera with one containing species recorded at Semuliki, Lachnocnema. The other genus, Thestor is confined to the southern states of Africa.
Genus Lachnocnema. A large Afrotropical genus comprising 36 species. 16 species have been recorded in Uganda and 12 species from the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley. Only one has been recorded at Semuliki: Lachnocnema exiguus. The lack of records for this genus suggests an under-representation and with targeted sampling further species will be identified.
Lachnocnema exiguus (Holland, 1890)
Lachnocnema exiguus (waiting on field images)
Genus Spalgis. A small Afrotropical genus comprising three species, two recorded in Uganda and one from Semuliki: Spalgis jacksoni. The other species recorded from Uganda, Spalgis lemolea has been recorded from Bugoma Central Forest Reserve around 120 km north-east of Semuliki and also within the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley.
Spalgis jacksoni jacksoni (Stempffer, 1967)
Spalgis jacksoni (waiting on field images)
Tribe Miletini
Of the five genera ascribed to this tribe, only one genus, Megalopalpus, is found within the Afrotropical region.
Genus Megalopalpus. A small Afrotropical genus comprising four species, three recorded in Uganda with all three found at Semuliki.
Megalopalpus zymna (Westwood, 1851)
​ Megalopalpus zymna (sexes similar)
Megalopalpus metaleucus (Karsch, 1893)
Megalopalpus metaleucus (waiting on field images)
Megalopalpus simplex (Röber, 1886)
Megalopalpus simplex (waiting on field images)
Subfamily Aphnaeienae
A subfamily with global representation. Currently systematics describe 11 species groups and this includes 17 genera from the Afrotropical region.
Genus Aphnaeus. A large Afrotropical genus comprising 37 species designated to 11 species groups. Nine species have been recorded in Uganda but to date only one at Semuliki. Seven species (including Aphnaeus orcas) have been recorded within the Ituri Forest of the DRC suggesting genus under-representation within the park and targeted sampling is required to increase species records.
Aphnaeus orcas (Drucy, 1782)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
​ Aphnaeus orcas (sexes similar)
Genus Pseudaletis. An Afrotropical genus comprising 27 species, four being recorded in Uganda and one recorded at Semuliki: Pseudaletis antimachus. 10 species have been recorded from the Ituri Forest of the DRC and targeted sampling should identify further species at Semuliki. The larvae are carnivorous, feeding on Crematogaster ants. .
Pseudaletis antimachus (Staudinger, 1887)
Pseudaletis antimachus (waiting on field images)
Subfamily Polyommatinae
A subfamily divided loosely into four tribes with two having Afrotropical species: Lycaenesthini and Polyommatini.
Tribe Lycaenesthini
Containing five Afrotropical genera: Anthene, Cupidesthes, Neurellipes, Triclema and Monile.
Genus Anthene. A largely Afrotropical genus comprising 72 species and split into a number of subgenera. 33 species have been recorded from Uganda, 22 from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley and 12 from Semuliki: Anthene larydas, A. crawshayi, A. ligures, A. sylvanus, A. rubricinctus, A. ituria, A. princeps, A. liodes, A. linulata, A. akoae, A. irumia and A. eliasi. The latter four are additions to the the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018).
Anthene ituria (Bethune-Baker, 1910)
Anthene ituria (males, undersides - showing size variation)
Anthene ituria (female, underside)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection)
Image by tapaculo99 (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Anthene larydas (Cramer, 1780)
Anthene larydas (males, underside)
Images by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Anthene sylvanus (Drury, 1773)
edit2.jpg)
edit1.jpg)
Anthene sylvanus (female, upper and underside)
Images by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Anthene crawshayi crawshayi (Butler, 1899)
Anthene crawshayi (waiting on field images)
Anthene ligures ligures (Hewitson, 1874)
Anthene ligures (waiting on field images)
Anthene rubricinctus rubricinctus (Holland, 1891)
Anthene rubricinctus (waiting on field images)
Anthene princeps (Butler, 1876)
Anthene princeps (waiting on field images)
Anthene liodes liodes (Hewitson, 1874)
Anthene liodes (waiting on field images)
Anthene lunulata grosei (Aurivillius, 1899)
Anthene lunulata (waiting on field images)
Anthene akoae albidior (Libert, 2010)
Anthene akoae (waiting on field images)
Anthene irumu (Stempffer, 1948)
Anthene irumu (waiting on field images)
Anthene eliasi (Congdon, Kielland and Collins, 1998)
Anthene eliasi (waiting on field images)
Genus Neurellipes. An Afrotropical genus comprising 49 species divided into four species groups. 10 species have been recorded from Uganda and eight from Semuliki: Neurellipes fulvimacula, N. kampala, N. scintillula, N. makala, N. zenkeri, N. lachares, N. rufomarginata and N. onias. The latter four are additional to the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018). Neurellipes leptines which has been tentatively identified - see image below, has been recorded in the Ituri Forest so its presence within Semuliki is probable. This species has not been added to the updated species list until identification has been confirmed.
Neurelippes scintillula scintillula (Holland, 1891)
Neurellipes scintillula (male, upper and underside)
Neurelippes onias (Hulstaert, 1924)
Neurellipes onias (underside, sexes similar)
Neurelippes leptines extensa (Libert, 2010)
Neurellipes leptines (underside, sexes similar - identification requires confirmation)
Neurelippes kampala triangularis (Libert, 2010)
a1.jpeg)
a.jpeg)
Neurellipes kampala (male, upper and underside)
Neurelippes fulvimacula (Mabille, 1890)
Neurellipes fulvimacula (waiting on field images)
Neurelippes rufomarginata (Bethune-Baker,1910)
Neurellipes rufomarginata (waiting on field images)
Neurelippes makala (Bethune-Baker, 1910)
Neurellipes makala (waiting on field images)
Neurelippes zenkeri zenkeri (Karsch, 1895)
Neurellipes zenkeri (waiting on field images)
Neurelippes lachares toroensis (Stempffer, 1947)
Neurellipes lachares (waiting on field images)
Genus Triclema. An Afrotropical genus comprising 23 species divided into two species groups. 22 species have been recorded in the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley, nine species have been recorded in Uganda and six from Semuliki: Triclema staudingeri, T. phoenicis, T. inconspicua, T. obsoleta, T. rufoplagata and T. lamias. The latter three are additions to the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018). Targeted sampling within the park will increase species records for this genus.
Triclema inconspicua latefascia (Libert, 2010)
a.jpeg)
Triclema inconspicua (male, upper and underside)
Triclema staudingeri (Grose-Smith and Kirby, 1894)
Triclema staudingeri (waiting on field images)
Triclema phoenicis (Karsch, 1893)
Triclema phoenicis (waiting on field images)
Triclema obsoleta (Stempffer, 1947)
Triclema obsoleta (waiting on field images)
Triclema rufoplagata ituriensis (Joicey and Talbot, 1921)
Triclema rufoplagata (waiting on field images)
Triclema lamias katerae (d'Abrera, 1980)
Triclema lamias (waiting on field images)
Tribe Polyommatini
This tribe is split into a number of subtribes which will not be identified here. The genus Cupidopsis has been placed within the tribe Polyommatini but has yet to be taxonomically defined within this group.
Genus Cupidopsis. A small Afrotropical genus comprising two species. Both species have been recorded in Uganda and also from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley (Cupidopsis cissus) and DRC Semliki Valley (Cupidopsis jobates). Only C. cissus has been recorded from Semuliki.
Cupidopsis cissus cissus (Godart, 1824)
Cupidopsis cissus (waiting on field images)
Genus Pseudonacaduba. A small Afrotropical genus comprising two species, both have been recorded from Semuliki.
Pseudonacaduba aethiops (Mabille, 1877)
Pseudonacaduba aethiops (waiting on field images)
Pseudonacaduba sichela sichela (Wallengren, 1857)
Pseudonacaduba sichela (waiting on field images)
Genus Uranothauma. An Afrotropical genus comprising 23 species with eight being recorded in Uganda. Surprisingly, only two species have been recorded from Semuliki: Uranothauma cyara and U. falkensteinii. This is in contrast to the six species recorded from the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley (all also found in Uganda, and include Uranothauma cyara and U. falkensteinii).
Uranothauma falkensteinii (Dewitz, 1879)
Uranothauma falkensteinii (waiting on field images)
Uranothauma cyara tenuimarginata (Grünberg, 1908)
Uranothauma cyara (waiting on field images)
Genus Cacyreus. A naturally occurring Afrotropical genus comprising nine species, four being recorded in Uganda. Two species have been recorded from Semuliki: Cacyreus lingeus and C. audeoudi. In the DRC Semliki Valley Cacyreus fracta is present and this species should be found at Semuliki with a similar habitat present as to that in the DRC.
Cacyreus audeoudi (Stempffer, 1936)
Cacyreus audeoudi (undersides sexes similar, uppersides different)
Image by Pat Bulman (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Cacyreus lingeus (Stoll, 1782)
Cacyreus lingeus (female, upper and underside, sexes undersides similar, uppersides different)
Image by bagonza_robert (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Cacyreus lingeus (underside)
Image by csaba12 (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Genus Leptotes. A genus of 30 species with a Neotropical and Australasian component of which 16 species are from the Afrotropical region. Six species have been recorded from Uganda and two so far from Semuliki: Leptotes pirithous and L. marginalis. Two species not recorded from Semuliki but recorded from the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley are Leptotes jeanneli and L. babaulti. To distinguish between these two species and Leptotes pirithous, genitalia dissection is required.
Leptotes pirithous pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767)
Leptotes pirithous (waiting on field images)
Leptotes marginalis (Stempffer, 1942)
Leptotes marginalis (waiting on field images)
Leptotes spp. (underside, upperside required to distinguish males of L. marginalis and L. pirithous)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Genus Tuxentius. An Afrotropical genus comprising 11 species, four being recorded in Uganda but only one at Semuliki: Tuxentius margaritaceus.
Tuxentius margaritaceus (Sharpe, 1892)
a.jpg)
Tuxentius margaritaceus (male, underside)
Image by clicque (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Genus Zizeeria. A genus comprising only one species and recorded from Semuliki: Zizeeria knysna. This species extends into the Australasian and Palearctic regions.
Zizeeria knysna knysna (Trimen, 1862)
Zizeeria knysna (underside, sexes similar)
Image by owene73 (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Genus Actizera. An Afrotropical genus of four species, one recorded from Semuliki: Actizera lucida.
Actizera lucida (Trimen, 1883)
Actizera lucida (waiting on field images)
Genus Zizula. A genus comprising two species, one occurring within the Afrotropical region and also recorded at Semuliki: Zizula hylax.
Zizula hylax (Fabricius, 1775)
Zizula hylax (waiting on field images)
Genus Azanus. A genus comprising 11 species, six occurring in Uganda and four recorded at Semuliki: Azanus isis, A. mirza, A. moriqua and A. natalensis. The species A. jesous is a widespread savannah butterfly, recorded from the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley and so it would be unusual not to find this species at Semuliki.
Azanus natalensis hylax (Fabricius, 1775)
Azanus natalensis (underside, sexes similar)
Azanus mirza (Plötz, 1880)
Azanus mirza (male, underside)
Azanus isis (Drury, 1773)
Azanus isis (female, underside)
Image by owene73 (original posted on www.inaturalist.org)
Azanus moriqua (Wallengren, 1857)
Azanus moriqua (waiting on field images)
Genus Eicochrysops. An Afrotropical genus comprising 15 species, five occurring in Uganda but only one recorded at Semuliki: Eicochrysops hippocrates. This species is the only record from the genus also recorded from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley.
Eicochrysops hippocrates (Fabricius, 1793)
Eicochrysops hippocrates (waiting on field images)
Genus Euchrysops. A predominantly Afrotropical genus comprising 27 species, 13 occurring in Uganda but only two recorded at Semuliki: Euchrysops osiris and E. barkeri.
Euchrysops barkeri (Trimen, 1893)
Euchrysops barkeri (underside, possibly)
Euchrysops osiris (Hopffer, 1855)
Euchrysops osiris (waiting on field images)
Genus Thermoniphas. An Afrotropical genus containing16 species, eight occurring in Uganda with four recorded at Semuliki: Thermoniphas alberici, T. distincta, T. fontainei and T. togara (the latter and addition to the published species list (Forbes, 2018).
Thermoniphas alberici (Dufrane, 1945)
A-ink.jpeg)
Thermoniphas alberici (undersides)
Thermoniphas togara togara (Plötz, 1880)
Thermoniphas togara (underside)
Thermoniphas distincta (Talbot, 1935)
Thermoniphas distincta (waiting on field images)
Thermoniphas fontainei (Stempffer, 1956)
Thermoniphas fontainei (waiting on field images)
Genus Oboronia. An Afrotropical genus containing seven species, five occurring in Uganda with four recorded at Semuliki: Oboronia guessfeldti, O. pseudopunctatus, O. punctatus, O. ornata and O. albicosta - the latter two species are additions to Forbes, (2018).
Oboronia guessfeldtii (Dewitz, 1879)
A1-ink.jpeg)
A-ink.jpeg)
Oboronia guessfeldti (upper and underside)
Oboronia guessfeldti (underside - showing yellow basal underside)
Oboronia ornata vestalis (Aurivillius, 1895)
-ink.jpeg)
Oboronia ornata (underside, showing no tail)
Oboronia punctatus (Dewitz, 1879)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
Oboronia punctatus (upper and underside)
Oboronia pseudopunctatus (Strand, 1912)
Oboronia pseudopunctatus (underside)
Oboronia albicosta (Gaede, 1916)
Oboronia albicosta (waiting on field images)
Subfamily Theclinae
A global subfamily divided into a number of tribes, with many having Afrotropical species representatives although a detailed phylogenetic consensus has yet to be produced. The tribes detailed are referenced from Williams (2016).
Tribe Amblypodiini
Containing only one Afrotropical genus; Myrina which comprises three species.
Genus Myrina. All three have been recorded in Uganda with one so far being recorded at Semuliki: Myrina sharpei. The species Myrina silenus has been recorded in Fort Portal (Uganda), Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley of the DRC so a record would be expected at Semuliki.
Myrina sharpei sharpei (Bethune-Baker, 1906)
Myrina sharpei (waiting on field images)
Tribe Iolaini
Containing three Afrotropical genera: Iolaus, Stugeta and Etesiolaus.
Genus Iolaus. An extensive Afrotropical genus containing 130 species, 44 species having been recorded in Uganda. Currently, five species have been recorded at Semuliki: Iolaus bellina, I. pollux, I. creta, I. mongiro and I. neavei. The latter three species are additional records to the Semuliki species list (Forbes, 2018). 25 species have been recorded in the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley, including four Semuliki species (I. mongiro the exception). Targeted and increased location sampling within Semuliki would increase species record numbers of this genus.
Iolaus bellina exquisita (Riley, 1928)
Iolaus bellina (waiting on field images)
Iolaus pollux albocaerulea (Riley, 1929)
Iolaus pollux (waiting on field images)
Iolaus mongiro (Stempffer, 1969)
Iolaus mongiro (waiting on field images)
Iolaus neavei katera (Talbot, 1937)
Iolaus neavei (waiting on field images)
Iolaus creta (Hewitson, 1878)
Iolaus creta (waiting on field images)
Tribe Hypolycaenini
Containing three Afrotropical genera: Hypolycaena, Hemiolaus and Leptomyrina.
Genus Hypolycaena. An extensive genus of 42 species containing Australasian, Indomalayan and Afrotropical species. There are 25 species found in the Afrotropical region, 10 species recorded from Uganda with four species recorded from Semuliki: Hypolycaena antifaunas, H. hatita, H. nigra and H. philippus. All Semuliki species have been recorded from the DRC Ituri Forest or Semliki Valley while a further six species Hypolycaena naara, H. liara, H. lebona, H. kadiskos, H. jacksoni and H. pachalica have yet to be recorded. Targeted and extended location sampling would increases species record numbers.
Hypolycaena philippus philippus (Fabricius, 1793)
Hypolycaena philippus (underside)
Hypolycaena philippus (female, underside)
Image by Sven Bontenbal (Semuliki National Park Collection - www.observation.org)
Hypolycaena nigra (Bethune-Baker, 1914)
-ink.jpeg)
-ink.jpeg)
Hypolycaena nigra (female, upper and underside - sexes similar)
Hypolycaena antifaunus latimacula (Joicey and Talbot, 1921)
a2.jpeg)
a1.jpeg)
Hypolycaena antifaunus (male, upper and underside)
b.jpeg)
Hypolycaena antifaunus (female, upperside)
b1.jpeg)
Hypolycaena antifaunus (female, underside)
Hypolycaena hatita ugandae (Sharpe, 1904)
a.jpeg)
b.jpeg)
Hypolycaena hatita (male, upper and underside)
c.jpeg)
Hypolycaena hatita (female, upperside)
d.jpeg)
Hypolycaena hatita (female, underside)
Tribe Oxylidini
Containing two Afrotropical genera: Oxylides and Syrmoptera. There have been no species records of Genus Syrmpotera within Uganda.
Genus Oxylides. A small genus containing seven species, two recorded in Uganda and both found at Semuliki: Oxylides albata and O. feminina.
Oxylides albata (Aurivillius, 1895)
a.jpeg)
b.jpeg)
Oxylides (albata or feminina - species underside is identical)
Oxylides albata (male, upper and underside)
c.jpeg)
Oxylides albata (female, upperside)
d.jpeg)
Oxylides albata (female, underside)
Oxylides feminina feminina (Sharpe, 1904)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
Oxylides feminina (male, upper and underside)
Tribe Deudorigini
Containing among Indomalayan, Palearctic and Australasian genera, five Afrotropical genera: Deudorix, Capys, Hypomyrina, Paradeudorix and Pilodeudorix. Currently records for this tribe are severely under-represented at Semuliki. Records for species of the genus Deudorix for example amount to just two while there have been seven species recorded from the Ituri Forest and DRC Semliki Valley (Ducarme, 2024).
Genus Deudorix. An Afrotropical genus containing 23 species, 11 described from Uganda with two recorded at Semuliki: Deudorix antalus and D. odana. The latter is an additional record to the published species list for Semuliki (Forbes, 2018).
Deudorix antalus (Hopffer, 1855)
Deudorix antalus (waiting on field images)
Deudorix odana odana (Druce, 1887)
Deudorix odana (waiting on field images)
Genus Hypomyrina. An Afrotropical genus containing four species, with all being present in Uganda and two being recorded from Semuliki: Hypomyrina nomenia and H. fournierae. Both species are additions to what had previously been an unrecorded genus at Semuliki, not detailed in the published species list (Forbes, 2018).
Hypomyrina nomenia (Hewitson, 1874)
Hypomyrina nomenia (waiting on field images)
Hypomyrina fournierae (Gabriel, 1939)
Hypomyrina fournierae (waiting on field images)
Genus Paradeudorix. An Afrotropical genus containing 13 species, with four being recorded from Uganda and one being recorded from Semuliki: Paradeudorix canescens, an additional record to Forbes (2018). Six species have been recorded in the adjacent Ituri Forest (Ducarme, 2018), so species records at Semuliki are likely to be under-represented.
Paradeudorix canescens (Joicey and Talbot, 1921)
Paradeudorix canescens (waiting on field images)
Genus Pilodeudorix. An Afrotropical genus comprising 50 species, with 23 being recorded from Uganda and eight being recorded from Semuliki: Pilodeudorix congoana, P. anetia, P. mera, P. otraeda, P. dimitris, P. bwamba, P. violetta and P. camerona. All eight species are additional records to the Semuliki species list of Forbes (2018). There have been 23 species recorded from the Ituri Forest and the DRC Semliki Valley (Ducarme, 2024), including the eight species from Semuliki. Targeted sampling would significantly increase species records for this genus at Semuliki.
Pilodeudorix sp. (underside)
Pilodeudorix congoana orientalis (Stempffer, 1957)
Pilodeudorix congoana (waiting on field images)
Pilodeudorix anetia (Hulstaert, 1924)
Pilodeudorix anetia (waiting on field images)
Pilodeudorix mera mera (Hewitson, 1873)
Pilodeudorix mera (waiting on field images)
Pilodeudorix otraeda genuba (Hewitson, 1875)
Pilodeudorix otraeda (waiting on field images)
Pilodeudorix dimitris indentata (Libert, 2004)
Pilodeudorix dimitris (waiting on field images)
Pilodeudorix bwamba (Stempffer, 1962)
Pilodeudorix bwamba (waiting on field images)
Pilodeudorix violetta (Aurivillius, 1897)
Pilodeudorix violetta (waiting on field images)
Pilodeudorix camerona katanga (Clench, 1965)
Pilodeudorix camerona (waiting on field images)
Genus site links, references and bibliography
Boyle, J.H. et al., (2015). Phylogeny of the Aphnaeinae: myrmecophilous African butterflies with carnivorous and herbivorous life histories. Systematic Entomology 40, pp. 169–182.
​
Boyle J.H. et al., (2023). Phylogeny of the Poritiinae (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), butterflies with ant associations and unusual
lichenivorous diets. Systematic Entomolgy: DOI: 10.1111/syen.12585.
​
Ducarme, R., (2024). The butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidia) of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Updated. Unpublished.
​
Espeland, M. et al., (2023). Rapid radiation of ant parasitic butterflies during the Miocene aridification of Africa. Ecology and Evolution 13 (5).
​
Fiedler, K. (1998). Lycaenid-ant interactions of the Maculinea type: Tracing their historical roots in a comparative framework. Journal of Insect Conservation 2, pp. 3–14.
​
Fielder, K., (2021). The ant associates of Lycaenidae butterfly caterpillars – revisited. Nota Lepidopterologica 44: pp. 159–174.
​
Libert, M., (2000). Revision of the genus Epitola Westwood, Hypophytala Clench and Stempfferia Jackson and a description of three new genera (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Lambillionea.
Libert, M., (2000). Revision of the genus Mimacraea Butler (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Lambillionea.
​
Libert, M., (2004). Revision of the African genus Deudorix Hewitson (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Lambillionea.
​
Libert, M., (2005). Revision of the genus Telipna Aurivillius (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae). Lambillionea.
​
Libert M., and Collins, S.C., (2019). Liptenara Bethune-Baker, 1915, ou Pentila Westwood, 1851? Description de cinq nouvelles espèces (Lepidoptera, Lycaenidae, Poritiinae). Bulletin de la Société entomologique de France, 124(1): pp. 61-72.
​
Vande weghe, G., (2010). Papillons du Gabon. Wildlife Conservation Society.
​
Williams, M.W., (2023). Classification of the Afrotropical butterflies to generic level. Metamorphosis 26, pp 102-108.
​​