Incertae sedis
Incertae sedis (unplaced genera of the subfamily Nymphalinae)
Pycina Doubleday, 1849
Kallimoides Shirôzu & Nakanishi, 1984
Vanessula Dewitz, 1887
Rhinopalpa Felder & Felder, 1860
Genus Kallimoides Shirôzu & Nakanishi, 1984
Butterflies and Moths, Kyoto 34: 107 (97-110).
Type-species: Kallima rumia Doubleday, by original designation.
An Afrotropical genus containing a single species.
Kallimoides rumia (Doubleday, 1849)
Kallima rumia Doubleday, 1849 in Doubleday and Westwood [1846-52]. The genera of diurnal
Lepidoptera, London: pl. 52 [1849]; 325 [1850] (1: 1-250 pp.; 2: 251-534 pp.). London.
Type locality: Ghana: “Ashanti”.
Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Equatorial
Guinea (Bioko), Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Central African Republic,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania.
Common name: African leaf butterfly.
Habitat: Forest. In Tanzania the Kigoma and Mpanda populations (close to ssp. rattrayi)
occur at altitudes between 800 and 1 700 m (Kielland, 1990).
Habits: This is a common butterfly in more open places in forest (Larsen, 2005a).
Specimens have the habit of settling among vegetation upside down with closed wings,
when they suddenly seem to disappear. If disturbed from its resting place it will rapidly
fly to another perch and ‘disappear’ when it settles (Kielland, 1990). Specimens are
attracted to sucking-trees (Schultz, 1920). Sometimes they are also attracted to fallen
fruit and banana-baited traps (Kielland, 1990). Males defend territories from perches on
broad leaves about two metres above the ground, sometimes for days on end (Larsen,
2005a). Specimens roost on the underside of green leaves, in contrast to the Oriental
Kallima, which use dead, brown leaves (Larsen, 2005a).
Early stages:
Aurivillius, 1895 [larva].
Larval food:
Brillantaisa species (Acanthaceae) [Lees, 1989 (Korup, Cameroon)].
Kallimoides rumia rumia (Doubleday, 1849)
Kallima rumia Doubleday, 1849 in Doubleday and Westwod [1846-52]. The genera of diurnal Lepidoptera,
London: pl. 52 [1849]; 325 [1850] (1: 1-250 pp.; 2: 251-534 pp.). London.
Type locality: Ghana: “Ashanti”.
Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana.
Specific localities:
Guinea – Nimbas (Larsen, 2005a).
Ghana – Ashanti (TL).
amiru Suffert, 1904 (as ssp. of Kallima rumia). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift,
Iris 17: 111 (108-123). Togo.
kassaiensis Niepelt, 1911 (as f. of Kallima rumia). Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift,
Iris 24: 124 (124). Democratic Republic of Congo: “Kassaifluss, Kongostaat”.
Kallimoides rumia jadyae (Fox, 1968)
Kallima rumia jadyae Fox, 1968. Bulletin de l’Institut fondamental d’Afrique Noire ser. A 30: ? (12361280).
Type locality: Cameroon.
Distribution: Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea (Bioko), Gabon, Congo, Angola,
Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo (Ubangi, Mongala, Uele, Ituri,
Kivu, Tshopo, Tshuapa, Sankuru, Lualaba).
Specific localities:
Cameroon – Korup (Larsen, 2005a).
Kallimoides rumia rattrayi (Sharpe, 1904)
Kallima rattrayi Sharpe, 1904. Entomologist 37: 182 (181-183).
Type locality: Uganda: “Toro”.
Distribution: Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania (north-west).
Specific localities:
Tanzania – A restricted area of southern Kigoma (south of the Sandstone Ridge) and
adjoining areas of Mpanda (Kielland, 1990); Minzro Forest (Congdon and
Collins, 1998).
Note: Populations from the Kigoma District, further south, apparently represent and undescribed
subspecies (Congdon & Collins, 1998).
Genus Vanessula Dewitz, 1887
Entomologische Nachrichten. Berlin 13: 145 (145-146).
Type-species: Vanessula buchneri Dewitz, by monotypy.
An Afrotropical genus containing a single species.
Vanessula milca (Hewitson, 1873)
Liptena milca Hewitson, 1873 in Hewitson, 1872-7. Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies 5: 86
(127 pp.). London.
Type locality: “West Africa”.
Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon,
Gabon, Congo, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, to Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania,
Zambia.
Common name: Lady’s maid.
Habitat: Dense and riverine forest (Kielland, 1990). In Tanzania ssp. latifasciata is
found at altitudes from 800 to 1 500 m (Kielland, 1990). Mostly in hilly country, above
800 m, at least in West Africa(Larsen, 2005a).
Habits: This species is patchily distributed but may be numerous where it occurs and is
usually associated with streams (Larsen, 2005a). The flight is feeble and close to the
ground, specimens frequently settling on low vegetation (Kielland, 1990). Larsen
(2005a) states that the flight pattern is remarkably like that of Acraea bonasia, with
which it invariably flies in Nigeria and Cameroon.
Early stages: Nothing published.
Larval food: Nothing published.
Vanessula milca milca (Hewitson, 1873)
Liptena milca Hewitson, 1873 in Hewitson, 1872-7. Illustrations of new species of exotic butterflies 5: 86
(127 pp.). London.
Type locality: “West Africa”.
Distribution: Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana.
Specific localities:
Guinea – Conakry area (Larsen, 2005a).
Sierra Leone – Loma Mountains (Larsen, 2005a); Gola Mountains (Larsen, 2005a).
Liberia – Yendamalahoun (Larsen, 2005a).
Ghana – Atewa Range (Larsen, 2005a).
Vanessula milca angustifascia Joicey & Talbot, 1928
Vanessula milca angustifascia Joicey & Talbot, 1928. Bulletin of the Hill Museum, Witley 2: 26 (19-27).
Type locality: Ivory Coast: “Côte d’Ivoire: Bofesso, 15 miles North of Man”.
Distribution: Ivory Coast (Nimba Mountains).
Vanessula milca buechneri Dewitz, 1887
Vanessula buechneri Dewitz, 1887. Entomologische Nachrichten. Berlin 13: 146 (145-146).
Vanessula milca buechneri Dewitz, 1887. Larsen, 2005a, stat. nov.
Type locality: “Centralafrika”.
Distribution: Nigeria (east), Cameroon, Gabon, Congo.
Specific localities:
Nigeria – Mambilla Plateau (Larsen, 2005a); Obudu Plateau (Larsen, 2005a); Okwangwo
(Larsen, 2005a); Oban Hills (Larsen, 2005a).
Cameroon – Korup, at 1 100 m (Larsen, 2005a).
Vanessula milca latifasciata Joicey & Talbot, 1928
Vanessula milca latifasciata Joicey & Talbot, 1928. Bulletin of the Hill Museum, Witley 2: 26 (19-27).
Vanessula milca latifasciata. Male. Left – upperside; right – underside. Wingspan: 34mm.
Kakamega, W. Kenya, 1650m. 10.iv.95. A.I. & M.A. Curle. (Curle Trust Collection - 74).
Vanessula milca latifasciata. Female. Left – upperside; right – underside. Wingspan: 37mm.
Female. Kakamega Forest, W. Kenya. 7.v.1997. A.I. Curle. (Curle Trust Collection - 75).
Type locality: Democratic Republic of Congo: “Butahu River, Semliki Valley”.
Distribution: Democratic Republic of Congo (east, north and south), Uganda, Kenya
(west), Tanzania (west), Zambia (north-west and Copperbelt).
Specific localities:
Tanzania – Mpanda and Kigoma Districts (Kielland, 1990).
Zambia – Ikelenge; Mwinilunga; Solwezi; Mufulira (Heath, et al., 2002).