Updated at: 2024-05-09
Coeliades kenya Evans, 1937
Citation of this page:content_copy
Sáfián, Sz., Siklósi, A. (2025). Coeliades kenya Evans, 1937 - https://abdb-africa.org/species/Coeliades_kenya
Taxonomy
Family
Hesperiidae Subfamily
Coeliadinae Tribus
Type locality
Occurrence
Biogeographical class
Ecological class
Conservation status
Description
Biology & habits
The species used to be treated as a subspecies of Coeliades keithloa, but Cock (2010) changed its status. It is common in the coastal areas of Kenya and Tanzania, also on Zanzibar and Pemba Islands. The habitat is mainly secondary forest and coastal scrub. The butterflies could be observed along forest paths in hot weather when they rest under the leaves of trees and bushes. When disturbed, they fly rapidly in large circles, but will look for another resting spot. Caterpillars were found and the butterfly was bred on the shrub Acridocarpus zanzibaricus A.Juss. in coastal Kenya.Host plants
Synonyms
Distribution map












Specific references
Cock, M.J.W. (2010): Observations on the biology of Afro–tropical Hesperiidae (Lepidoptera) principally from Kenya . Part 1. Introduction and Coeliadinae. Zootaxa 2547:1-63.External online references
Other media
Coeliades kenya female UPS
ZANZIBAR, Dongwe - 08.V.2022 - Szabolcs SáfiánCoeliades kenya female UNS freshly hatched
KENYA, Dakatcha Nature Reserve - 09.05.2024 - Szabolcs SáfiánCoeliades kenya caterpillar fourth instar
KENYA, Dakatcha Nature Reserve - 17-19.04.2024 - Szabolcs SáfiánCoeliades kenya caterpillar final instar
KENYA, Dakatcha Nature Reserve - 17-19.04.2024 - Szabolcs Sáfián