70 



AFRICAN MIMETIC BUTTERFLIES 



CRENIS PECHUELI AND CRENIDOMIMAS CONCORDIA. 

 CRENIS PECHUELI. 



Dewitz, Nov. Act. N. Cur. (41), ii, p. 195, pi. 26, f. i (1879). 



— I. c. (50), p. 368, pi. 17, f. 2, 5 (1887). 

 Aurivillius {rosa var.), Rhop. Aeth., p. 162 (1898). 



Plate VI, Fig. 12, o^. 



Crenis pechueli may be distinguished from the closely allied rosa by the presence in 

 the former on the fore-wing underside of a continuous submarginal row of black spots, 

 whereas in rosa the spots do not extend beyond the space between the upper and lower 

 radial. C. rosa is also of a somewhat richer mauve colour on the upperside. The two 

 species overlap in Central Africa, but rosa is the eastern and pechueli the western species. 

 The female of the latter has all the black markings more strongly marked. In the fore- 

 wing the cell is suffused with black, and there is a rather indefinitely marked sub-apical black 

 bar extending from the subcostal to about the middle of the hind-margin. In both wings 

 there is a submarginal row of distinct round black spots. 



In the cabinet the underside appears to be designed for conspicuousness. No doubt 

 when the insect is in the open, and settled with closed wings it must be very conspicuous, 

 but its usual habit is to settle high up on tree trunks, and Mr. Neave tells me that in this 

 position it is very difficult to see. He found it common in North-West Rhodesia, where 

 it was accompanied by Crenidomimas concordia. 



CRENIDOMIMAS CONCORDIA. 



Hopffer, Sitzb. Akad. Wiss., Berlin, p. 641 (1855). 



— Peters, Reise Mossamb. Ins., p. 391, pi. 22, ff. 3, 4 (1862). 



Butler {Crenis crawshayi), Proc. Zool. Soc, 1893, p. 654, pi. 60, f. 5 {1895). 

 Aurivillius, Rhop. Aeth., p. 205 (1898). 



Plate VI, Fig 15 o^. 



Mr. Neave tells me that this butterfly is exceedingly difficult to distinguish from 

 Crenis pechueli when on the wing. The resemblance of the undersides is very remarkable. 

 The complete orange-ochreous band of the hind-wing in Crenis is represented in Crenido- 

 mimas by a series of radiating sagittiform markings, which, combined with the discal band 

 of black spots, produces a very similar effect. The habits and localities of C. concordia 

 coincide in the west with those of Crenis rosa, and in the east with those of C. pechueli, 

 whilst in the Upper Congo all three may be found together. The female has the black 

 markings much more extended and suffused, giving the insect a very dark appearance, and 

 corresponding with the same sex in Crenis. 



P. VESTALIS AND P. STRIATA. 

 PLANEMA VESTALIS. 



Felder, Reise Nov. Lep., p. 369, pi. 46, ff. 8, 9 (1865-7). 

 Hewitson {euryta), Exot. Butt. Acraea, pi. 4, f. 21 (1867). 

 Aurivillius, Rhop. Aeth., p. 122 (1898). 



Plate VI, Fig. 13, o^. 



It is a somewhat difficult matter to separate the different forms of Planema into definite 

 species. Many, especially West African forms, are very variable, and, whilst extreme forms 

 are separable with but little trouble, there are many intermediate varieties the precise affinity 

 of which is by no means clear. I have had the opportunity of examining some ten examples 

 of P. vestalis, three of which are females, and in this species at least the pattern is fairly 

 constant. The female is distinguished by its larger size and the more rounded outhne of the 



