Swainson, 1830 subtribe iolaina riley, 1958 Iolaus pallene. Photo courtesy Jeremy Dobson

Type-species: Papilio timon Fabricius, by original designation.

The larva is dull green and feeds on the flowers of Loranthus incanus parasitic on sparsely Pheidole-infested Funtumia elastica (Apocynaceae).

“Larva (Plate XIII, figs 7, 11). The drawing reproduced in fig. 7 must be regarded as to some extent diagrammatic, since from Farquharson’s notes it seems doubtful whether the head and legs are in life so prominently displayed as in the sketch. The colour is described as “dull green”, like the larva of A. paneperata. The larva may be described as onisciform, the dorsal portion forming a ridge segmentally divided into stiff plates, the upper edges of which are projected backwards so as slightly to overlap. Anteriorly these plates form projections round a deep cavity the general arrangement of which can best be understood from the figure. The head in the preserved example is pointed vertically downwards, though this is probably not a natural position. The lateral parts of the segments form a kind of mantle which, when in close contact with the support, completely covers and protects the head, legs, and ventral surface. The last segment is prolonged into a bifid process. The larval cuticle is of comparatively enormous thickness and consists of a dense fibrous tissue carrying dorsally a number of small hooked spines. The surface of the cuticle, fig. 11, shows, under medium magnification, a delicate tracery having a squamoid pattern, and fairly evenly distributed upon it are great numbers of chitinanths, resembling in shape single roses, in many cases bearing a partially or completely expanded chitinous tuft. As the tufts are easily broken it seems probable that normally they are always formed, and that where only the rose formation remains they have become detached. Length 16 mm. Pupa (Plate XIII, fig. 5). The pupa is shown, not qiute complete at fig. 5. It is difficult in a mere black-and-white sketch to suggest its extraordinary resemblance to a bud. The terminal segments are progressively tapered towards the point of attachment, and the long axis of the pupa forms a sinuous curve giving it a most chracteristic shape. Judging from the appearance of the dry skin, the original colour is green, somewhat darker towards the point of attachment. The central portion of the dorsal surface is also darker, as are the wing cases, thus giving the lateral parts a close resemblance to the green part of the expanding bud. Length about 15 mm.”

Type-species: Hypolycaena mermeros Mabille, by monotypy.

Type-species: Pseudiolaus poultoni Riley, by original designation.