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
Species images and videos
Tourists and visitors that undertake activities at Semuliki are encouraged to take videos or images of butterflies that they come across which all helps to contribute to the knowledge of the butterfly fauna of the park. Any images or videos used within the website will be acknowledged as will any new or important information that contributes further to the butterfly diversity of the park.
Species record additions and amendments
A provisional total of 448 butterfly species were documented and recorded at Semuliki National Park (Forbes, 2018). The park has by far the greatest butterfly diversity of any park or reserve in Uganda. There have been further additional species identified since the 2018 publication (currently 615 species - 08/04/2025). This has been through the further analysis of the thousands of images collected from the PhD research; analysing the excellent individual genus publications of Mark Williams; the genus revisions of Michel Libert and the unpublished Hesperiidae document of Torben Larsen. Sven Bontenbal recorded four new species for the park in one day of sampling and photographing butterfies in June 2024. Lastly, not forgetting the historical sampling of Justice Oribokihiro in the field prior to his transfer to Kibale National Park. The following additional records have been collated which are in addition to what has already been documented in Forbes (2018). The current total of butterfly species recorded within the park boundary is now a total of 615.
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The five following species records are amendments to the Forbes (2018) publication.​
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Family Nymphalidae
Subfamily Charaxinae Doherty, 1886
Tribe Charaxini Guenée, 1865
Genus Charaxes Ochsenheimer, 1816
Charaxes smaragdalis leopoldi Ghesquière,1933 from Charaxes smaragdalis caerulea Jackson, 1951
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Subfamily Limenitidinae Behr, 1864
Genus Bebearia Hemming, 1960
Bebearia cocalia ssp. katera van Someren, 1939
Bebearia dowsetti Hecq, 1990
Subfamily Heliconiinae Swainson, 1822
​Genus Acraea Fabricius, 1807
Acraea paragea Grose-Smith, 1900 (ref: Acraeinae of Uganda (Bernaud et al., 2018)) from A. parageum parageum Grose-Smith, 1900
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Subfamily Poritiinae Doherty, 1886
Genus Pentila Westwood, 1851
Pentila hiendlmayri Dewitz, 1887 from Liptenara hiendlmayri (Libert, M., and Collins, S. C., 2019)
The following newly recorded species below are referenced within the website and are included in the updated species total:
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Family Papilionidae
Subfamily Papilioninae Latreille, 1802
Tribe Leptocircini Kirby, 1896
Genus Graphium Scopoli, 1777
G. ucalegon schoutedini Berger, 1950 (Bontenbal, 2024; www.observation.org)
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Family Nymphalidae
Subfamily Satyrinae Boisduval, 1833
Tribe Satyrini Boisduval, 1833
Genus Bicyclus Kirby, 1871
Bicyclus mesogenina Grünberg, 1911 (Aduse-Poku et al., 2016)
Bicyclus dentata (Sharpe, 1898)
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Subfamily Limenitidinae Behr, 1864
Tribe Adoliadini Doubleday, 1845
Genus Euphaedra Hübner, 1819
Euphaedra intermedia Rebel, 1914 (Forbes capture)
Euphaedra ueleana Hecq, 1982 (Forbes capture)
Euphaedra ansorgei Hecq, 1974 (Forbes capture)
Euphaedra simplex Hecq, 1978 (Forbes capture)
Euphaedra sinuosa sinuosa Hecq, 1974 (Forbes capture)
Euphaedra procera/subprocera Hecq, 1984 (Forbes capture)
Euphaedra vicina vicina Hecq, 1984 (Bontenbal, 2024; www.observation.org)
Euphaedra alternus, van Someren, 1935 (Forbes, capture)
Euphaedra fascinata Hecq, 1984 (Forbes, capture)
Genus Bebearia Hemming, 1960
Bebearia chloeropsis Bethune-Baker, 1908 (Afrotropical Butterflies, Williams 2022)
Genus Euriphene Boisduval, 1847
Euriphene doriclea ducarmei, Hecq, 1994 (Hecq, 2002)
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Tribe Cymothoini Dhungel & Wahlberg, 2018
Genus Cymothoe Hübner, 1819
Cymothoe distincta Overlaet, 1952 (Afrotropical Butterflies, Williams 2022) - included in updated species total
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Tribe Neptini Newman, 1870
Genus Neptis Fabricius, 1807
Neptis agouale parallela Collins & Larsen, 1996 is replaced by Neptis melicerta parallela (Collins & Larsen, 1996 comb. nov.)
Subfamily Heliconiinae Swainson, 1822
Tribe Acraeini Boisduval, 1833
Subtribe Acraeina Boisduval, 1833
Genus Acraea Fabricius, 1807
Acraea endoscota Le Doux, 1928 (ref: Acraeinae of Uganda (Bernaud et al., 2018))
Acraea ventura Hewitson, 1877 (ref: Aurivillius, 1925 - Acraeinae of Uganda (Bernaud et al., 2018))
Acraea cabira f. apecida Oberthür, 1893​
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Subfamily Biblydinae
Tribe Epicaliini Guenée, 1865
Genus Sevenia Koçak, 1996
Sevenia umbrina Karsch, 1892 (Forbes capture)
Family Hesperiidae
Subfamily Tagiadinae Mabille, 1878
Tribe Tagiadini Mabille, 1878
Genus Eagris Guenée, 1862
Eagris tetrastigma tetrastigma Mabille, 1891 (Forbes capture)
Eagris tigris tigris Evans, 1937
Eagris nottoana nottoana Wallengren,1857
Genus Abantis Hopffer, 1855
Abantis iruma Evans, 1951
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Tribe Celaenorrhinini Swinhoe, 1912
Genus Sarangesa Moore, 1881
Sarangesa tertullianus Fabricius, 1793
Sarangesa bouvieri Mabille, 1877
Sarangesa maculata Mabille, 1891
Sarangesa thecla mabira Evans, 1956
Sarangesa loelius Mabille, 1877
Sarangesa haplopa Swinhoe, 1907
Genus Scopulifera Libert, 2014
Scopulifera nigropuncta Bethune-Baker, 1908
Genus Bettonula Libert & Larsen, 2014
Bettonula bettoni bettoni Butler, 1902
Genus Apallaga Strand, 1911
Apallaga fulgens montanus Libert, 2014
Apallaga homeyeri fracta Libert, 2014
Apallaga inexpectata Libert, 2014
Apallaga darlustris Libert, 2014
Apallaga alluaudi Mabille & Boullet, 1916
Apallaga boadicea howarthi Berger, 1976
Genus Eretis Mabille, 1891
Eretis buamba Evans, 1937
Eretis melania Mabille, 1891
Eretis artorius Larsen & Cock, 2011
Eretis camerona Evans, 1937
Genus Celaenorrhinus Hübner, 1819
Celaenorrhinus proxima proxima Mabille, 1877 (Forbes capture)
Celaenorrhinus perimitans Libert, 2014
Celaenorrhinus macrostictus Holland, 1893
Genus Spialia Swinhoe, 1912
Spialia ploetzi ploetzi Aurivillius, 1891
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Subfamily Hesperiinae Latreille, 1809
Tribe Hesperiini Latreille, 1809
Genus Lepella Evans, 1937
Lepella lepeletier Latreille, 1824
Genus Prosopalpus Holland, 1896
Prosopalpus styla Evans, 1937
Genus Gorgyra Holland, 1896
Gorgyra diversata Evans, 1937
Gorgyra mocquerysii Holland, 1896
Genus Teniorhinus Holland, 1892
Teniorhinus watsoni Holland, 1892 (recorded in error)
Teniorhinus niger Druce, 1910
Genus Xanthodisca Aurivillius, 1925
Xanthodisca vibius Hewitson, 1878
Xanthodisca astrape Holland, 1892
Genus Hypoleucis Mabille 1891
Hypoleucis dacena Hewitson, 1876
Hypoleucis ophiusa ophir Evans, 1937
Genus Andronymus Holland, 1896
Andronymus gander Evans, 1947
Andronymus caesar philander Hopffer, 1855
Genus Zophopetes Mabille, 1904
Zophopetes cerymica Hewitson, 1867
Zophopetes ganda Evans, 1937
Genus Fresna Evans, 1937
Fresna netopha Hewitson, 1878
Fresna nyassae Hewitson, 1878
Fresna joppa Evans, 1937
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Tribe Baorini Doherty, 1886
Genus Zenonia Evans, 1935
Zenonia zena Trimen, 1864
Zenonia crasta Evans, 1937
Genus Pelopidas Walker, 1870
Pelopidas thrax Hübner, 1821
Pelopidas mathias mathias Fabricius, 1798
Genus Borbo Evans, 1949
Borbo lugens Hopffer, 1855
Borbo detecta Trimen, 1893
Borbo borbonica borbonica Boisduval, 1833
Borbo fatuellus fatuellus Hopffer, 1855
Borbo micans Holland, 1896
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Tribe Ceratrichiini Grishin, 2019
Genus Ceratrichia Butler, 1870
Ceratrichia hollandi Bethune-Baker, 1908
Ceratrichia enta Evans, 1947
Genus Pardaleodes Butler, 1870
Pardaleodes bule Holland, 1896
Genus Ankola Evans, 1937
Ankola fan Holland, 1894
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Tribe Astictopterini Swinhoe, 1912
Genus Osmodes Holland, 1892
Osmodes banghaasi Holland, 1896
Osmodes adonia Evans, 1937
Osmodes adosus Mabille, 1889
Osmodes lux Holland, 1892
Osmodes hollandi Evans, 1937
Genus Caenides Holland, 1896
Caenides kangvensis Holland, 1896
Genus Monza Evans, 1937
Monza cretacea Snellen, 1872
Monza alberti Holland, 1896
Genus Rhabdomantis Aurivillius, 1925
Rhabdomantis galatia Hewitson, 1868
Genus Acleros Mabille, 1885
Acleros bibundica Strand, 1913
Acleros nigrapex Strand, 1913
Acleros mackenii instabilis Mabille, 1890 (Bontenbal, 2024; www.observation.org)
Genus Semalea Holland, 1896
Semalea pulvina Plötz, 1879
Semalea sextilis Plötz, 1886
Genus Chondrolepis Mabille, 1904
Chondrolepis niveicornis Plötz, 1883
Genus Paronymus Aurivillius, 1925
Paronymus ligora Hewitson, 1876
Genus Mopala Evans, 1937
Mopala orma Plötz, 1879
Genus Pteroteinon Watson, 1893
Pteroteinon caenira Hewitson, 1867
Pteroteinon capronnieri Plötz, 1879
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Tribe Gretnini Grisham, 2019
Genus Gretna Evans, 1937
Gretna zaremba jacksoni Evans, 1937
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​​Family Lycaenidae
Species record additions for the Family Lycaenidae have been referenced from the individual genus publications found in Afrotropical Butterflies (Williams, 2022).
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Subfamily Poritiinae Doherty, 1886
Tribe Pentilini Aurivillius, 1914
Genus Telipna Aurivillius, 1895
Telipna acraea nigrita Jackson, 1969
Telipna citrimaculata neavei Bethune-Baker, 1926
Telipna erica Suffert, 1904
Genus Pentila Westwood, 1851
Pentila hybrida Libert and Collins, 2019
Genus Ornipholidotos Bethune-Baker, 1914
Ornipholidotos ugandae ugandae Stempffer, 1947
Ornipholidotos ntebi Bethune-Baker, 1906
Ornipholidotos paradoxa orientis Libert, 2005
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Tribe Liptenini Röber, 1892
Genus Liptena Westwood, 1851
Liptena flavicans katera Stempffer, 1956
Liptena batesana Bethune-Baker, 1926
Liptena decipiens leucostola Kirby, 1890
Genus Falcuna Stempffer & Bennett, 1963
Falcuna iturina Stempffer and Bennett, 1963
Genus Citrinophila Kirby, 1887
Citrinophila tenerea Kirby, 1887
Genus Mimacraea Butler, 1872
Mimacraea fulvaria fulvaria Aurivillius, 1895
Mimacraea telloides Schultze, 1923
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Subfamily Aphnaeinae Distant, 1884
Genus Pseudaletis Druce, 1888
Pseudaletis antimachus Staudinger, 1887
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Subfamily Polymmatinae Swainson, 1827
Tribe Lycaenesthini Toxopeus, 1929
Genus Anthene Doubleday, 1847
Anthene lunulata grosei Aurivillius, 1899
Anthene akoae albidior Libert, 2010
Anthene irumu Stempffer, 1948
Anthene eliasi Congdon, Kielland and Collins, 1998
Genus Neurellipes Bethune-Baker, 1910
Neurellipes makala Bethune-Baker, 1910
Neurellipes zenkeri zenkeri Karsch, 1895
Neurellipes lachares toroensis Stempffer, 1947
Neurellipes onias Hulstaert, 1924
Genus Triclema Karsch, 1893
Triclema obsoleta Stempffer, 1947
Triclema rufoplagata ituriensis Joicey and Talbot, 1921
Triclema lamias katerae d'Abrera, 1980
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Tribe Polyommatini Swainson, 1827
Genus Thermoniphas Karsch, 1895
Thermoniphas. togara togara Plötz, 1880
Genus Oboronia Karsch, 1893
Oboronia ornata vestalis Aurivillius, 1895
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Subfamily Theclinae Swainson, 1830
Tribe Iolaini Riley, 1958
Genus Iolaus Hübner, 1819
Iolaus mongiro Stempffer, 1969
Iolaus creta Hewitson, 1878
Iolaus neavei katera Talbot, 1937
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Tribe Deudorigini Doherty, 1886
Genus Deudorix Hewitson, 1863
Deudorix odana odana Druce, 1887
Genus Hypomyrina Druce, 1891
Hypomyrina nomenia Hewitson, 1874
Hypomyrina fournierae Gabriel, 1939
Genus Paradeudorix Libert, 2004
Paradeudorix canescens Joicey & Talbot, 1921
Genus Pilodeudorix Libert, 2004
Pilodeudorix congoana orientalis Stempffer, 1957
Pilodeudorix anetia Hulstaert, 1924
Pilodeudorix mera mera Hewitson, 1873
Pilodeudorix otraeda genuba Hewitson, 1875
Pilodeudorix dimitris indentata Libert, 2004
Pilodeudorix bwamba Stempffer, 1962
Pilodeudorix violetta Aurivillius, 1897
Pilodeudorix camerona katanga Clench, 1965
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Family Pieridae
Subfamily Pierinae Swainson, 1820
Tribe Teracolini Reuter, 1896
Genus Colotis Hübner, 1819
Colotis aurigineus Butler, 1883 (Forbes capture)
Colotis danae eupompe Klug, 1829 (Forbes capture)
Colotis evarne Klug, 1829 (Forbes capture)
Gretna carmen carmen Evans, 1937 (Bontenbal, 2024; www.observation.org)
Subfamily Limenitidinae Behr, 1864
Genus Euphaedra Hubner, 1819
Euphaedra edwardsii edwardsii van der Hoeven,1845 from Euphaedra edwardsii langoueensis Oremans, 2010
Euphaedra medon fraudata van Someren,1935 from Euphaedra medon inaequabilis Thurau, 1904
Acraea macaria hemileuca Jordan, 1914 (ref: Acraeinae of Uganda (Bernaud et al., 2018)) from A. umbra hemileuca Jordan, 1914
Acraea eltringhami Joicey and Talbot, 1921 (ref: Acraeinae of Uganda (Bernaud et al., 2018)
Genus Micropentila Aurivillius 1895
Micropentila fontainei Stempffer & Bennett, 1965
Tribe Epitolini Jackson, 1962
Genus Iridana Aurivillius, 1920
Iridana bwamba Stempffer, 1964
Iridana obscura Stempffer, 1964
Iridana katera Stempffer, 1964
Genus Geritola Libert, 1999
Geritola liana Roche, 1954
Geritola dubia dubia Jackson, 1964
Geritola zelica viridis Libert, 2020
Genus Stempfferia Jackson, 1962
Stempfferia badura contrasta Libert, 1999
Stempfferia cercene Hewitson, 1873
Stempfferia ciconia mongiro Jackson, 1968
Stempfferia congoana orientalis Libert, 2020
Stempfferia insulana Aurivillius, 1923
Stempfferia sylviae Libert, 1999
Genus Cephetola Libert, 1999
Cephetola entebbeana Bethune-Baker, 1926
Cephetola cephenoides Libert, 2020
Cephetola maculata Hawker-Smith, 1926
Cephetola viridana Joicey and Talbot, 1921
Cephetola orientalis Roche, 1954
Cephetola kamengensis subgriseata Jackson, 1964
Cephetola mpangensis mpangensis Jackson, 1962
Cephetola dolorosa Roche, 1954
Genus Epitolina Aurivillius, 1895
Epitolina melissa Druce, 1888
Genus Hewitsonia Kirby, 1871
Hewitsonia kuehnei Collins and Larsen, 2008
Genus Powellana Bethune-Baker, 1908
Powellana cottoni Bethune-Baker, 1908
Species record confirmations and request
The following species were recorded from Semuliki in Dr Peter Howard's 1991 report 'Nature Conservation in Uganda's Tropical Forest Reserves' from reference collections and literature reviews and presumably were included in the 374 species from the 'Biodiversity Report for Semuliki' (1996) by Dr Tim Davenport and Dr Peter Howard. However, only 309 species were actually identified in the Biodiversity Report list and these 7 species are now the only ones I can find of the missing 65 species. It would be great to get images of the following from a museum or in the field:
Papilio antimachus - found at Kibale and DRC Semliki Valley (Ducarme) so definitely possible
Papilio leucotaenia - found in Kibale but montane habitat seems to be a preference
Papilio jacksoni ruandana - found by Ducarme in DRC Semliki Valley so definitely possible
Papilio rex mimeticus - found by Ducarme in DRC Semliki Valley so possible again
Graphium ridleyanus - again from DRC Semliki Valley (Ducarme)
Graphium almansor uganda - again Ducarme, DRC Semliki Valley and also Kibale
Graphium latreillanus - Central Forest Belt/Ituri (Ducarme) so likely
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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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Bernaud, D., Lequeux, J.P. and Ziraye, M., (2019). Acraeinae of Uganda.
Davenport, T.R.D. & Howard, P. (1996). Semliki National Park Biodiversity Report. Forest Dept., Kampala.
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Davenport, P., (2003). Endemic butterflies of the Albertine Rift - an annotated checklist. Wildlife Conservation Society, Mbeya.
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Ducarme, R., (2018). The butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidia) of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Metamorphosis 29, 22-36.
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Ducarme, R., (2024). The butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidia) of the north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Updated. Unpublished.
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Howard, P., (1991). Nature Conservation in Uganda's Tropical Forest Reserves. IUCN/WWF, Forestry Dept., Ministry of Environment Protection, Kampala.
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Libert, M., (2014). Sur la taxonomie du genre Celaenorrhinus Hübner en Afrique (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae). ABRI, Nairobi.
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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), 61-72.
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Williams, M.C., (2021). Classification of the Afrotropical Butterflies to Generic Level. Publication is available from Lepidopterists' Society of Africa website https://www.lepsocafrica.org/?p=publications&s=atb.
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