Butterflies of
Africa
Yellow Liptena
Liptena xanthostola
HOLLAND, 1890
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
LIPTENINAE
Tribe - LIPTENINI
Liptena xanthostola coomassiensis,
Likpe Hills, Ghana / Togo border.
Introduction
The
subfamily Lipteninae is wholly African in distribution, and comprises of no less
than 600 species, varying from the tiny creamy yellow
Liptena xanthostola to the almost blindingly bright metallic blue
Epitola posthumus - a species which with a wingspan
of 65mm is massive by Lycaenidae standards.
The Lipteninae are fascinating
because of their association with "ant trees", i.e. trees which support colonies
of Crematogaster ants. As with most other
Lycaenidae species, the caterpillars of Liptenids have ants in almost constant
attendance. The ants "milk" a sugary substance from a gland on the caterpillar's
back, and in return for this reward the caterpillar benefits because the
presence of the aggressive ants deters other insects such as wasps and flies
that would otherwise attack them.
The genus
Liptena comprises of 65 known species, all of similar size ( circa 35mm
wingspan ), but varying in colour from pure white to yellow, orange or black.
Some species such as xanthostola have only very
feint markings, while others are strongly patterned with dark wavy lines, spots
or patches of reddish-orange.
Liptena
xanthostola is one of about half a dozen cream coloured species, most of
which have a dark apex on the upperside. It found in found from Sierra Leone to
Uganda and western Kenya, and is considered to be a rarity, although I have
found it without difficulty in several of the forests of southern Ghana.
Habitats
This is a rainforest species, and tends to be encountered along the minor tracks
and paths in denser parts of the more intact forest blocks. It is found at
altitudes between about 100-500m.
Lifecycle
The caterpillars browse on the trunks of
their "ant-trees". These trees can be any one of a number of species from
different plant families. There is conjecture about what exactly it is that the
larvae feed upon - e.g. some writers consider them to feed on lichens, while
others insist it is blue-green algae. It may even be the case that they feed on
microscopic fungi, and it is possible that ants play a part in cultivating these
fungi.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies behave similarly to most other small Liptenids -
they spend long periods at rest, sitting at the tips of leaves or
tendrils with their wings held erect. Periodically they fan their
wings in such a way that the apexes of the forewings meet underneath
the abdomen. This is done in a very deliberate way which appears
to indicate that it is some sort of signal, and at least one
writer has suggested that the butterflies may be signalling to the
ants. It seems more likely however that the behaviour serves a
simpler purpose, e.g. it may be necessary to invert the wings in
this way to facilitate the release of pheromones to attract mates.
Liptena xanthostola coomassiensis,
Bunso, Ghana
There is an interesting tale to
tell about the above photo, which should serve as a warning to all
who visit rainforests. I spotted the butterfly a few feet away
from me, and left the trail so that I could study it's behaviour.
After a few minutes my attention was diverted by a
Euphaedra, which I followed for a
short distance in the hope of getting a photograph. Although I had
wandered no more than about 10 metres from the trail I was unable
to locate it again, and spent the next 2 hours searching for it.
Eventually I found another trail, and followed it. Fortunately it
emerged on a logging road, and I walked 2 kms uphill in searing
heat and eventually found a forestry station. There I was told
that to get back to my starting point I needed to walk 4kms back
downhill to a main road. I did so, and had the good fortune to get
a lift on a motorbike back to to the guesthouse where I was
staying. Unfortunately however the stress and exhaustion of the
day considerably weakened my immune system, and I was taken ill
the following day with a very bad fever. The middle of Africa is
not a good place to be ill. It took several weeks for me to make a
full recovery. The moral of this story should now be clear - NEVER
wander away from the trails !
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