Identification Guide: Amauris echeria Group

There are 3 similar Amauris species in Central Africa:

Species Dorsal Ventral
1) Amauris (Amaura) echeria (Stoll, [1790])
2) Amauris (Amaura) albimaculata Butler, 1875
3) Amauris (Amaura) crawshayi Butler, 1897



In order to separate the species a clear view of the ventral surface and head are useful. In the figure below 2 key characteristics are highlighted.
First, on the left, the markings on the palpi (which cover the proboscis).
As can be seen, in A. echeria the palpi are marked by 2 round dots
In A. albimaculata a squarish dot and a long dash
And in A. crawshayi 2 small squarish dots.



Secondly, on the right, the way the yellow area in space 8 of the HW connects with the rest of the discal band (circled in red).
In A. echeria the basal edge of this area meets the cell at a right (or acute) angle and at the origin of vein 7.
In A. albimaculata the yellow area also meets the cell at the origin of vein 7 but forming an obtuse angle.
For A. crawshayi an obtuse angle is also formed but it meets the cell further towards the base of the wing, away from the origin of vein 7.

It is also important to note the general form of the HW submarginal row of spots.



On the left A. echeria, center A. albimaculata, right A. crawshayi.
Notice the much more regular curve the spots in A. albimaculata follow.

Other characteristics to note are:

  • In A. echeria the FW spots are usually off-white, even yellow or dark-yellow. This is especially true in Southern Africa. In A. albimaculata, as it's latin name suggests, these spots are always pure white.
  • A. echeria's FWs are more falcate, giving the apex of the wing more of a point.
  • In general, the edges of the HW discal band in A. albimaculata & A. crawshayi are "fuzzy", while in A. echeria the edge is often sharp and well-defined. (This rule is subject to some variation from insect to insect.)

Posted on April 20, 2019 04:43 PM by cabintom cabintom

Comments

In these species males can be separated from the females by the shape of the wings (females have more rounded FWs) and by the presence of an oval brand at the anal angle of the HW.

Posted by cabintom almost 5 years ago

@beetledude @jakob @nicovr

Thoughts? Is it helpful? Comprehensible? Useful?

Posted by cabintom almost 5 years ago

Thanks cabintom - very useful! I'll bookmark this page!

Posted by nicovr almost 5 years ago

Excellent, @cabintom!

Posted by jakob almost 5 years ago

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