GENERA OF AFRICAN LYCAENIDAE 



189 



The genus Anthene is very numerous in species, and it is one of those of which the 

 male genitalia have been much studied. In his revision of the African Lycaenesthes, 

 Bethune Baker (1910) figured and described those of nearly all the species known at 

 that time. Unfortunately not all his figures show the same aspect, which renders 

 comparison often rather difficult. Since 1936 I have myself published in a variety 

 of papers both figures and descriptions of a number of species. There is no point 

 in republishing them here, but references to them will be found in the list of species 

 which follows. Comparison of these figures brings to light in nearly every case good 

 specific characters, and also a perfect uniformity of type. The median indentation 

 of the posterior margin of the tegumen varies in abruptness and depth, the curvature 

 of the subunci and their thickness vary, and the outline of the- valves is more or less 

 incised, but the structural plan remains constant in all the species. Anthene is, in 

 fact, a very homogeneous genus. 



The early stages of several species have been described by various authors : — 



A. liodes, A. lachercs and A. sylvanits by Lamborn, 1913, Trans, ent. Soc. Lond. 

 1913 : 476. 



A. rubricinctus by Farquharson, 1921 : 381. 



A. amarah and A. definita by Murray, 1935 : 132 and by Pinhey, 1949 : 109. 



A. ligures, A. definita, A. otacilia kikuya, A. pitmani, A. lunulata, A. princeps 

 ugandae, A. livida, A. levis grisea, A. amarah, A. larydas and A. crawshayi by 

 Jackson, 1937, Trans. R. ent. Soc. Lond. 86 : 221, and Pinhey, 1949 : no. 



A. definita by Dickson, 1944, /. ent. Soc. sthn Afr. 7 : 97. 



The larvae of several species live in company with ants of the genera Camponolus, 

 Crematogaster and Pheidole. 



Fig. 167. Anthene larydas larydas (Cramer), $ genitalia. 



