Cymothoe beckeri

I believe there are 2 known variants of this species. C. berkeri beckeri and C. beckeri theodosia from Central Africa. Though I have found it difficult to find precise pictorial reference for each of these, as most of the information online/books I have found just list this butterfly as Cymothoe beckeri. I have mainly been investigation the females, as my males are very similar.

In the book Butterflies of West Africa by Larsen he lists the species described as C. berkeri beckeri, here the female clearly has the orange patch on the hind wings. This from western parts of its range (Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo). Other reference I have found depicts the female with no orange patch on the hindwing, but these are from the eastern most parts of its range (Central African Republic, W. Uganda). Are these with no orange patch and from its eastern range c. beckeri theodosia? Are there any other ssp. of C. beckeri, I can find written reference to odd names, but nothing pictorially or any description of there markings.

I have also checked my old books 'The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the Butterfly World' by Paul Smart and 'Butterflies of the Afrotropical Region by D'Abrera, 1980.


The specimens I have and my assumptions are:
1) with no orange on the females hind wing are from the Bangui Region of the Central African Republic (= C. beckeri theodosia ?)
2) and those females with the orange patch are from Ebogo and Lolodorf in the Cameroon (= C. berkeri beckeri ?)

Reference only and not pictures of my actual specimens, but typical of them.

C. beckeri theodosia female



C. berkeri beckeri female



Any help/guidance welcome.

Dave