Butterflies and skippers of the afrotropical region

“Eggs: The eggs are laid in massed clusters; the first layer is in neat and compact rows, but each successive layer is more irregular. 0.4 mm in diameter by 0.9 mm high; the eggs have 20 longitudinal ribs, not too well defined, braced by 15-16 cross braces which break up into a netting pattern over the rounded top. Nearing the micropyle they fade, leaving a smooth and shiny micropyle. They are pale watery yellow at first, assuming a pale salmon tint later. The larvae hatch after some 14 days. Larva: The young larvae eat their way out near the top and devour most of the shell. The lower larvae hatch last and eat their way up. There are often half-eaten, late and unhatched larvae. The young larvae are at first pale dull yellow, but as soon as they have fed on the surface of the leaf, lying side by side, they assume a green colour. There are two instar groups, one taking 5 instars, the other taking 6. Five instar group: 1^st instar 1.75 mm, growing to 3.5 mm in 8 days; 2^nd instar growing to 5.25 mm in 7 days; 3^rd instar growing to 10 mm in 5 days; 4^th instar growing to 16 mm in 5 days; 5^th instar growing to 26 mm in 6 days. Six instar group: 1^st instar 1.25mm, growing to 3 mm in 8 days; 2^nd instar growing to 4.5 mm in 7 days; 3^rd instar growing to 7.5 mm in 5 days; 4^th instar growing to 12 mm in 5 days; 5^th instar growing to 16 mm in 6 days; 6^th instar growing to 26 mm in 10 days. According to Mr C.G.C. Dickson, the more advanced larvae congregate together and conceal themselves under the masses of dried leaves of the food-plant which they have previously divested of the cuticle. When the larvae are at this stage, one would not suspect their presence on the plant when glancing at it in the daytime. Pupa: The pupa is suspended by cremastral hooks. It is 17 mm long; the imago emerges after 9 days.”

Recorded, in error, by Ackery et al., 1995 from Sierra Leone (Larsen, 2005a).