Coeliades keithloa

Coeliades keithloa
Coeliades keithloa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Coeliades
Species: C. keithloa
Binomial name
Coeliades keithloa
(Wallengren, 1857)[1]
Synonyms
  • Rhopalocampta keithloa Wallengren, 1857

The Red Tab Policeman (Coeliades keithloa) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Ethiopia south to South Africa.

The wingspan is 58-64 mm for males and 61-66 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas with peaks in late summer and autumn in southern Africa[2].

The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Barringtonia racemosa, Acridocarpus natalitius, Acridocarpus zanzibaricus, Acridocarpus glaucescens, Acridocarpus ristalitius, Dregea, Combretum and Byrsocarpus species.

Subspecies

  • Coeliades keithloa keithloa (from Mozambique to KwaZulu-Natal)
  • Coeliades keithloa kenya Evans, 1937 (Kenya)
  • Coeliades keithloa merua Evans, 1947 (Kenya)
  • Coeliades keithloa menelik (Ungemach, 1932) (Ethiopia)

References

  1. ^ Coeliades, Site of Markku Savela
  2. ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
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