Despite having lost 90% of its forest cover, Côte d’Ivoire remains a important centre for butterfly biodiversity in West Africa.  A three year survey (1998 – 2000) produced a total of 780 species.  Some 50 taxa were recorded from Côte d’Ivoire for the first time, and a further 20 proved to be either new subspecies or new to science altogether.  Extinction of butterfly species in Côte d’Ivoire so far is unlikely, though endemics in the Danane area are under threat from habitat change.  There are risks if the forest cover is further eroded.

A new subspecies of Lepidochrysops neavei (Bethune-Baker, 1923) (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), L. neavei nolani, is described from material collected near Mangochi, south-eastern Malawi.  The adult males differ principally from those of the nominate subspecies in that the black spotting on the underside of the wings is much reduced and the post-medial row of black spots on the underside of the forewing is entirely absent.