April 1998 
7 
days, they had grown from 2 mm to 4.5 mm; they then 
moulted to the 2* 1 instar and moved as a group to a 
slightly older leaf. Their general colouration was still 
pale with dark wide heads. Sadly, 1 couldn't keep them 
alive for long and the climate in Mombasa proved 
impossible for them. But I think it was enough— these 
second instar caterpillars now had the dorso lateral (two 
or three) branched spines that had been observed in the 
final (green) instar. The identification had been linked 
up— just. 
Meanwhile, one of the three large caterpillars had 
been tried on a mixture of other possible food plants of 
the Flacourtiaceae. That meant Aphloia, Trimeria and 
Dovyalis. At the end of three days, this caterpillar had 
shrunk in size from 19 to 14 mm and the only plant that 
might have been nibbled slightly was Aphloia. On being 
returned to Dasylepis, it gorged rapidly, although soon 
afterwards it died. However. I offer all this as provisional 
evidence that C. teita feeds only on Dasylepis. (I had 
previously tried some first instar caterpillars on 
definitely fresh leaves of Aphloia, Trimeria and Dovyalis , 
but they had either died, or at least seemed not to eat at 
all). 
Aphloia has been the other possible food plant. This 
seemed to be present as an understorey species in the 
higher parts of the forest, where the indigenous trees 
had been cut down and Pinus planted instead. 1 found 
none in the ‘real - forest, such as near Dasylepis. Aphloia 
leaves are much smaller, serrated, and always a clear 
green without any epiphytic growth. A search on Aphloia 
has so far revealed no eggs, caterpillars, or pupae— 
only a possible small leech! Again, this pushes us back 
to guess that Dasylepis is the main or only food plant. 
CONSERVATION 
According to the Taita Hills Survey already referred to 
(NMK, 1989), Dasylepis * is found in Ngangao and 
Mbololo forests only. This is relevant, in that C. teita 
used to occur in Chawia Forest. Aphloia is present at 
Chawia, but unless there is a fairly large quantity of 
Dasylepis that eluded the survey’s eyes, it will probably 
be found that C. teita is now extinct at Chawia due to 
the felling of parts of the old forest. (I haven’t personally 
checked either there nor in Mbololo Forest). I have 
spoken with the forest warden at Ngangao, and the Asst. 
Forestry Officer in Wundanyi and there is some interest 
on their pan. If the seeds of Dasylepis can be germinated 
(and the tree distribution may offer some hope of this), 
then these could be planted to form a middle storey 
within plantation forests where they are already putting 
indigenous trees (as opposed to exotics). Presumably this 
should first be done at Chawia Either way, after maybe 
ten years, it could be possible to introduce this butterfly 
back to Chawia, or into new places. These trees are 
said to have been used traditionally as fire-wood, the 
tree itself being called ‘Mugunga’ or ‘Mugungungu’. It 
is even said by the Kasigau Forestry Officer to be 
growing up in that forest; but before trying to introduce 
C. teita there (or anywhere) there might need to be 
much more research on its life history. And that, as I 
have indicated above, would necessitate a continual 
supply of fresh Dasylepis— a delicate forest species. Not 
only is there the continual possibility of leaves or young 
caterpillars drying out. but the cut leaves seem to exude 
a sticky substance which can trap the first instar larvae. 
Research is needed, but also education of the great 
majority of the Wadawida (Wfctaita). for whom a 
caterpillar is only something which eats their vegetables, 
and for whom a butterfly has ‘no use’. Yet perhaps the 
drama of endangered species could be the way in for 
some people, both into the beauty of nature with the 
advantages of its conservation, and also (in Thita) some 
pride in their particular heritage. 
Acknowledgements 
My thanks are due especially to Dr Ian Gordon for advice 
and encouragement; to the East African Herbarium and 
National Museums of Kenya butterfly section, for both 
helping me and letting me do my own thing unhindered; 
and finally to the Forestry Department in Wundanyi, 
for giving me free and friendly access to any parts of 
the forests I wanted. 
Rev. Tim Oakley, c/o Mrs K.M. Oakley, 24 Lawrence 
Grove, Henlecge, Bristol BS9 4EJ, UK 
References 
Beentje, H. (1989). Report on the Tula Hills Forests 
survey. Utafiti 1.2. 
Van Someren, V.G.L. (1974). A list of foodplants of some 
East African Rhopalocera with notes on early stages 
of the Lycaenidae. Journal of the Lepidopterists ' 
Society 28: 315-333. 
Williams, J.G. (1969). A Field Guide to the Butterflies 
of Africa. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, p. 
165. 
*Editor’s note: there has been a recent sight recording 
of Rawsonia lucida in Ngangao Forest. 
CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILDLIFE 
Wildlife world- wide is being affected by climate change, 
and without immediate action the impacts will increase, 
according to BirdLife International and the Royal Society 
for the Protection of Birds. International experts recently 
met in Colorado to discuss the impacts of climate change 
on wildlife. A report based on the findings was launched 
by BirdLife International and the W>rld Wide Fund For 
Nature at the Kyoto Climate Change Conference in 
December 1997 
The report. ‘Climate Change and Wildlife' assembles 
and evaluates the increasing amount of scientific evidence 
for what is actually happening to wildlife as a result of 
a warmer world. It details both observed and predicted 
changes, focusing in particular on: the timing of life 
cycles; the distribution and population of species; 
migration strategies; important wildlife sites. At the 
