Poekilocerus bufonius subsp. hieroglyphicus

12. Poekilocerus bufonius hieroglyphicus ( Kiug, 1832 )

Diagnosis: This is most slender and elongate subspecies and can be distinguished from other subspecies by its pronotum flat or very slightly selliform, not concave; integument smooth, yellowish-buff with fine bluish or purplish marking and speckling; antennae dark with distinct yellow rings, equal to or slightly longer than head and pronotum together.

Habitats: The preferred food plant is Calotropis procera, a common shrub throughout the Saharian belt which favours sandy soil and semi-arid conditions. The readiness to accept alternative food plants has enabled Poekilocenis to survive in some areas where Calotropis is scarce or even absent. This is the most mobile member of the genus in which both sexes especially the females have proportionately longer wings.

Material examined: Murzuq, 1 ♂, 1 ♀, on wild grass, 10.v.1995.

Localities: Fezzan: Murzuk, Serdeles, Tibesti, Uadi Giovani, Uadi Tanezzuft.

Distribution: Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Mouretania, Sahara and Semi-desert belt of South of Ethiopia, Sudan, Senegal, Chad, cameroons, Nigeria, Mali, Upper Volta.

Remarks: This species is being known as Jarad-al-ushr which means Calotropis procera. This species was recorded from Murzuq (Fezzan) by Salfi (1935a). It is widely distributed in South of Sahara and the semidesert belt South of it from Ethiopia and Sudan and Southern Egypt to Mauretania and Senegal (Popov & Kevan, 1979).