Axiocerses harpax ugandana (?)

[cabintom]

Looking for confirmation on the ID.


22/VII/2016 Near Nebobongo, Haut-Uele (2°28'N, 27°38'E) 760m

[africaone]

the genus need revision ... no help possible until that.

[cabintom]

Sept 15, 2016 15:36:34 GMT africaone said:

the genus need revision

Really? I mean it's not surprising, just that I was looking at the Henning revision done in 1996 to help with the ID... it didn't help all that much. I figured it was because I was overlooking something.

[africaone]

Henning's paper is a step

[mcheki]

Since Henning's paper is the latest available revision it is the best guide we have. Until someone researches further and re thinks things we can do little more about it (Unless we actually do the work!!) My guess is that the determination is correct and will have to stand. There is a degree of variability in harpax as also in the other Axiocerces species, particularly on the undersides..

[mcheki]

Here is my collection of Axiocerces as I arranged it using Henning's paper for the determinations. It was not the easiest of tasks but I hope that I have got it right. With only a single specimen it is much harder than working with a short series.

OK It looks as though I have also included Zeritis which I thought I had cropped out. Take it as a bonus!

You will have to excuse my photography but the lighting is not nearly perfect enough.

My collection is aimed at being a reference collection rather than just going for the best and most perfect specimens.

[wollastoni]

Wow, so good to see those rarely seen African Lycaenidae !

Keep them coming guys, you're the best !

[deliasfanatic]

Great to see these - thanks for posting!

[cabintom]

Sept 16, 2016 16:24:01 GMT mcheki said:

My collection is aimed at being a reference collection rather than just going for the best and most perfect specimens.

It's a great reference! That's for sure. Thanks for sharing these photos.

[cabintom]

Here's a second specimen:


25/VII/2016 Near Nebobongo, Haut-Uele (2°28'N, 27°38'E) 760m

Both specimens were collected at the edge of a small Pygmy village. The day I collected this one, my wife was with me and one of the village ladies insisted on showing us to her young infant. It was definitely that way around. I think she wanted to make sure her kid knew that white people exist and that we aren't necessarily dangerous. At least that's the sense I got... it's also still quite possible for folks in that part of the country to go their entire lives without seeing foreigners. As we left her and the village to head further into the forest, we said "tutaonana", which is Swahili for "we'll see you later." A few hours later she sent someone along to find us, and let us know that regretfully she had to leave for the local market (some distance away), so we would likely not see her again. Cross-cultural interactions are complex, though sometimes amusing.

[Paul K]

There are still many places in the world insulated from European people.
When I stayed in one of the small village in Central Laos and I was seating at the front porch of the "house" local kids were passing by when finished school nearby, almost all of them stopped and looked at me for quite long time, specially younger once, I guess older were to shy but I saw the curiosity in their eyes. I was told they never saw white man before. I felt a little like an animal in the zoo where people come to met new species. 4 years old boy where I stayed there he was so proud he knows me and I bet all kids were talking long about it.
The village is totally insulated from outside world, there is no tourists or any other activity around to bring foreigners and local people never travel more far than their market, rice paddies or temple. 

Paul

PS.
Although many of them use smart phones and other tools of modern civilizations brought by Laotian traders.