A new species of Iolaus Hübner, [1819] (Papilionoidea: Lycaenidae: Theclinae) in the subgenus Argiolaus Druce, 1891 from Kenya

A new species in the genus Iolaus (Papilionoidea, Lycaenidae, Theclinae) is described from the Gatamaiyu Forest, Aberdare Mountains, Central Highlands, Kenya. Morphologically, I. gatamaiyu sp. n. is similar to I. manasei Libert, 1993, a species of submontane forests of the Cameroon Highlands, which has very different male genitalia. The male genitalia of the new species are similar to those of I. crawshayi crawshayi Butler, 1897, I. crawshayi littoralis Stempffer & Bennett, 1958 and particularly to those of I. crawshayi maureli Dufrane, 1954.

All these subspecies of I. crawshayi, however, are morphologically and ecologically distinct. The subgeneric placement of I. manasei is also briefly discussed.