Africa Wild Insect Book: Butterflies (Lepidoptera)

[Toko]

All entries will be edited and updated (additional photos and information will be added by moderators). New entries will be posted according to taxonomic order and the post date does not reflect the actual date of new posts.



Index to Butterflies



Superfamily Papilionoidea

Family Nymphalidae
Subfamily Danainae
Danaus chrysippus orientis African Monarch, Plain Tiger viewtopic.php?p=67642#p67642
Amauris albimaculata albimaculata Layman viewtopic.php?p=505692#p505692
Amauris ochlea ochlea Novice viewtopic.php?p=143467#p143467
Subfamily Satyrinae
Aeropetes tulbaghia Table Mountain Beauty viewtopic.php?p=545139#p545139
Cassionympha cassius Rainforest Brown viewtopic.php?p=214342#p214342
Coenyropsis natalii Natal Brown viewtopic.php?p=486597#p486597
Melanitis leda helena Evening Brown,Twilight Brown viewtopic.php?p=201690#p201690
Pseudonympha trimenii trimenii Trimen's Brown viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679#p242437
Stygionympha wichgrafi Wichgraf’s Brown viewtopic.php?p=231330#p231330
Subfamily Helyconiinae
Acraea anemosa Broad-bordered Acraea viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&p=486848#p486848
Acraea axina Little Acraea viewtopic.php?p=489984#p489984
Acraea horta Garden Acraea viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&start=10#p261135
Acraea natalica Natal Acraea viewtopic.php?p=231333#p231333
Acraea neobule neobule Wandering Donkey Acraea viewtopic.php?p=231334#p231334
Acraea oncaea, Stephenia oncaea Window Acraea, Rooibok Acraea viewtopic.php?p=231335#p231335
Phalanta phalantha aethiopica African Leopard, Common Leopard viewtopic.php?p=231341#p231341
Telchinia esebria, Hyalites esebria Dusky Acraea viewtopic.php?p=231338#p231338
Telchinia serena, Hyalites serena Dancing Acraea, Small Orange Acraea viewtopic.php?p=231339#p231339
Subfamily Charaxinae
Charaxes achaemenes achaemenes Bushveld Emperor, Bushveld Charaxes viewtopic.php?p=231342#p231342
Charaxes brutus natalensis White-barred Charaxes, White-barred Emperor viewtopic.php?p=231343#p231343
Charaxes candiope Green-veined Charaxes viewtopic.php?p=487205#p487205
Charaxes castor flavifasciatus Giant Charaxes viewtopic.php?p=487204#p487204
Charaxes jasius saturnus Foxy Emperor, Foxy Charaxes, Koppie Charaxes viewtopic.php?p=231346#p231346
Charaxes varanes varanes Pearl Emperor, Pearl Charaxes viewtopic.php?p=487200#p487200
Subfamily Limenitidinae
Hamanumida daedalus Guineafowl Butterfly, Road Inspector viewtopic.php?p=231349#p231349
Neptis saclava marpessa Spotted Sailer viewtopic.php?p=231351#p231351
Subfamily Cyrestinae
Subfamily Biblidinae
Byblia ilithyia Spotted Joker viewtopic.php?p=231352#p231352
Eurytela dryope angulata Golden Piper viewtopic.php?p=231354#p231354
Subfamily Nymphalinae
Hypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi Variable Diadem viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&start=20#p276547
Hypolimnas misippus Common Diadem viewtopic.php?p=231356#p231356
Junonia hierta cebrene Yellow Pansy viewtopic.php?p=231361#p231361
Junonia natalica natalica Brown Pansy, Brown Commodore viewtopic.php?p=231362#p231362
Junonia oenone oenone Blue Pansy, Black Pansy viewtopic.php?p=231363#p231363
Junonia orithya madagascariensis Eyed Pansy, Ox-eyed Pansy viewtopic.php?p=231364#p231364
Precis antilope Darker Commodore viewtopic.php?p=487222#p487222
Precis archesia Garden Commodore, Garden Inspector viewtopic.php?p=231359#p231359
Precis octavia sesamus Gaudy Commodore viewtopic.php?p=231360#p231360
Protogoniomorpha anacardii nebulosa Clouded Mother-of-pearl viewtopic.php?p=231357#p231357
Protogoniomorpha parhassus Common Mother-of-pearl viewtopic.php?p=518572#p518572
Vanessa cardui Painted Lady viewtopic.php?p=231366#p231366
Subfamily Libytheinae

Family Lycaenidae
Subfamily Aphnaeinae
Aloeides damarensis damarensis Damara Copper viewtopic.php?p=496509#p496509
Aloeides damarensis mashona Damara Russet viewtopic.php?p=526136#p526136
Axiocerses tjoane tjoane Eastern Scarlet, Common Scarlet viewtopic.php?p=492306#p492306
Cigaritis phanes Silverline, Silvery Bar viewtopic.php?p=241804#p241804
Subfamily Portiinae
Subfamily Miletinae
Subfamily Lycaeninae
Lycaena clarki Eastern Sorrel Copper viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&start=30#p283554
Subfamily Theclinae
Chrysoritis chrysaor Burnished Opal viewtopic.php?p=231367#p231367
Leptomyrina hirundo Tailed Black-eye viewtopic.php?p=518577#p518577
Subfamily Polyommatinae
Anthene amarah amarah Black-striped Hairtail viewtopic.php?p=231369#p231369
Azanus jesous jesous Topaz Babul Blue, Topaz-spotted Blue viewtopic.php?p=231374#p231374
Azanus natalensis Natal Babul Blue, Natal Spotted Blue viewtopic.php?p=487299#p487299
Cacyreus marshalli Common Geranium Bronze viewtopic.php?p=231370#p231370
Chilades trochylus, Freyeria trochylus Grass Jewel, Jewel Blue viewtopic.php?p=231375#p231375
Euchrysops malathana Common Smoky Blue viewtopic.php?p=231372#p231372
Lampides boeticus Pea Blue, Long-tailed Blue, Lucerne Blue viewtopic.php?p=231371#p231371
Leptotes pirithous pirithous Common Zebra Blue viewtopic.php?p=487301#p487301
Tarucus sybaris linearis Dotted Pierrot, Dotted Blue viewtopic.php?p=504820#p504820
Uranothauma nubifer nubifer Black Heart viewtopic.php?p=231376#p231376
Zizeeria knysna knysna African Grass Blue, Sooty Blue viewtopic.php?p=505027#p505027

Family Pieridae
Subfamily Pierinae
Belenois aurota aurota Brown-veined White viewtopic.php?p=231382#p231382
Belenois creona severina African Common White viewtopic.php?p=231383#p231383
Belenois thysa thysa False Dotted Border viewtopic.php?p=530309#p530309
Colotis annae annae Scarlet Tip viewtopic.php?p=508463#p508463
Colotis antevippe gavisa Red Tip viewtopic.php?p=231379#p276319
Colotis calais calais Topaz Arab, Topaz Tip viewtopic.php?p=505512#p505512
Colotis evagore antigone Small Orange Tip, Tiny Orange Tip viewtopic.php?p=231379#p231379
Colotis evenina evenina African Orange Tip viewtopic.php?p=231380#p231380
Colotis ione Bushveld Purple Tip, Common Purple Tip, Purple Tip viewtopic.php?p=231381#p231381
Colotis vesta argillaceus Southern Veined Arab, Veined Tip, Veined Orange viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&start=60#p487040
Leptosia alcesta inalcesta African Wood White viewtopic.php?p=231389#p231389
Mylothris agathina agathina Common Dotted Border, Eastern Dotted Border viewtopic.php?p=231388#p231388
Nepheronia buquetii buquetii Buquet's Vagrant viewtopic.php?p=231378#p231378
Pieris brassicae Cabbage White viewtopic.php?p=231387#p231387
Pinacopteryx eriphia eriphia Zebra White viewtopic.php?p=231377#p231377
Subfamily Coliadinae
Catopsilia florella African Migrant, Common Vagrant, African Vagrant viewtopic.php?p=231390#p231390
Eurema brigitta brigitta Broad-bordered Grass Yellow viewtopic.php?p=231391#p231391
Eurema floricola floricola Malagasy Grass Yellow viewtopic.php?p=545134#p545134

Family Papilionidae
Graphium antheus Large Striped Swordtail viewtopic.php?p=231394#p231394
Papilio dardanus cenea African Mocker Swallowtail viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&p=486847#p486847
Papilio demodocus demodocus Citrus Swallowtail viewtopic.php?p=231392#p231392
Papilio nireus lyaeus Green-banded Swallowtail, Black Velvet viewtopic.php?p=231393#p231393


Superfamily Hesperioidea (Skippers)
Family Hesperidae
Subfamily Coeliadinae
Coeliades pisistratus Two-pip Policeman viewtopic.php?p=231395#p231395
Subfamily Pyrginae
Caprona pillaana Ragged Skipper viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&p=486859#p486859
Sarangesa phidyle Small Elfin viewtopic.php?p=554637#p554637
Spialia colotes transvaaliae Bushveld Sandman viewtopic.php?p=491250#p491250
Spialia ferax Ferax Grizzled Skipper, Common Sandman viewtopic.php?f=247&t=679&p=486938#p486938
Tagiades flesus Clouded Flat, Clouded Forester, Clouded Skipper viewtopic.php?p=486827#p486827
Subfamily Heteropterinae
Subfamily Hesperiinae
Afrogegenes letterstedti Brown Dodger used to be Gegenes niso niso Common Hottentot Skipper viewtopic.php?p=231396#p231396
Platylesches moritili Honey Hopper viewtopic.php?p=494107#p494107

[Toko]

Family Nymphalidae

The second-largest butterfly family worldwide, with 6 000 species in 12 subfamilies, nine of these represented in South Africa. Also known as 'brush-footed butterflies', because the adults' front pairs of legs are atrophied to small brush-like sensory organs, so that they appear to have only four legs. The front pair of legs serves no walking function.

[Toko]

Subfamily Danainae (Milkweed Butterflies)

Distinguished from other subfamilies of Nymphalidae by having forewing vein 3A, which joins vein 2A close to the wing base. Flight is generally slow and sailing. Bright coloration (black patterned with white, yellow, orange or blue) warns vertebrate predators of their acrid odour and distastefulness.

[Toko]

African Monarch, Plain Tiger Danaus chrysippus orientis Melkbosskoenlapper
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily Danainae

© Hawkeyes
Kruger National Park

© Flutterby
Feeding on Waltheria indica Kruger National Park, H4-1

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 50–70 mm ♀ 50–75 mm.
Distasteful to predators in general - and serves as the model for a number of mimics, e.g. female Common Diadem. This large conspicuous beauty has a tawny orange upperside, the wing tips are black with white spots and the edges of the wings have a black border.
The body is black with many white spots. The wings are tawny, the upper side brighter and richer than the underside. The apical half of the forewing is black with a white band. The hindwing has three black spots around the center. The hindwing has a thin border of black enclosing a series of semicircular white spots. Small white forewing spots.
The male Plain Tiger is smaller than the female, but more brightly colored. The male has a pouch on the hindwing. This spot is white with a thick black border and bulges slightly. It is a cluster of specialised scent scales used to attract females.
Their larvae are also attractive with black and yellow bands and three pairs of long black filaments. Their pupae look like miniature gift bags, adorned with gold spots and a gold ring and ranging in colour from cream, to green, to pink.

Distribution
Danaus chrysippus orientis is predominantly found in tropical Africa and the surrounding islands including Madagascar and the Seychelles.



Habitat
This species occurs in many habitats ranging from deserts to savannah grasslands, dry deciduous woodlands, humid sub-tropical forests, gardens, parks and cities at altitudes between sea level and about 1500m.

Biology
Flight period: All year, with peak in late summer/autumn.
Monarch butterflies feed on Milkweeds, such as Balloon Milkweed (Gomphocarpus physocarpus), which is where they get their poisonous properties from.

Links: ARKive, SUBFAMILY DANAINAE Boisduval, 1833 (DOC)

© nan
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

© nan
Kruger National Park

© leachy

© leachy
Kruger National Park

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park

[Toko]

Genus Amauris (Friar, Novice, Layman, Chief)

16 species in Africa, 4 in South Africa
Medium-sized to large butterflies, black spotted or blotched with white or cream. Sexes similar, male with dark, shiny scent patch on hind wing anal area.

[Toko]

Novice Amauris ochlea ochlea
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily Danainae

© Tina
Female. iSimangaliso

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 55–60 mm ♀ 60–65 mm.
Large chocolate brown butterfly with white wing patches.

Distribution
Coastal and inland riverine and lowland forests. KwaZulu-Natal south coast to Limpopo Province lowland forests and further north to eastern Kenya.

Habitat
Forest edges, flatlands.

Biology
Flight period: All year, with peak in late summer/autumn.

Links: SUBFAMILY DANAINAE Boisduval, 1833 (DOC)

[BluTuna]

Evening Brown,Twilight Brown Melanitis leda helena (Skemer-bruintjie)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Satyrinae. Tribe: Melanitini

© BluTuna
Letaba, Kruger National Park

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 58–65 mm, ♀ 63–72 mm.
Melanitis leda is subject to a wide range of variation in the underside colouration and patterning, and exhibits pronounced seasonal dimorphism. The wet season morph is pale brown with numerous dark striations and prominent ocelli. In the dry season morph the ocelli are greatly reduced or may be entirely absent, and the ground colour varies from grey to light brown, mottled with tiny dark dots.
Most active at dusk and on cloudy days.
Upperside of wings brown, underside cryptically coloured. Orange area near apex of fore wings, enclosing a comma-shaped black patch marked with 2 white spots, outer margin near apex produced into a point. Hind wings with stout tail and up to 3 white-centred eyespots.

Distribution
Found across most of Africa including Madagascar, Arabia, the Indian subcontinent, south-east Asia and northern Australia.
Widespread in South Africa (eastern part and coastal Western Cape).

Habitat
Rain forest, coastal bush and bushveld. They are attracted to fermenting fruits.

Biology
Flight period: Two main overlapping broods: winter (Mar–Aug), spring and summer (Sept–Mar).
Laval stage feed on certain grass species among other plants.

[Toko]

Rainforest Brown Cassionympha cassius (Reënwoud-bosbruintjie)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Satyrinae. Tribe: Satyrini.

© JustN@ture
Blyde River Canyon

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 34–38 mm ♀ 36–42 mm. Male and female similar.
Brown. Fore wings each with large central orange patch and black eyespot containing two white dots and ringed with yellow. Hind wings with two similar eyespots, each with one white dot. The number of ocelli on both wings is very variable. Darker brown line parallel with outer margin of all wings.

Distribution
Resident, common throughout southern and eastern parts of South Africa (in the western Cape along the western coast through the eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern slopes of the escarpment through Swaziland and Mpumalanga to the Soutpansberg in the Limpopo Province).



Habitat
Common in cool, moist forests, coastal or riverine bush and kloofs. Flies throughout the day. Flutters around dense bushes or forest fringes.

Biology
Flight period: Year-round, mostly September to May.
Larval foodplants: Poaceae species, including Pentaschistis capensis and Juncus capensis.

Links: Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths, Alan Weaving: Field Guide to Insects of South Africa

© steamtrainfan
Amatola Region, Eastern Cape

[Toko]

Trimen's Brown Pseudonympha trimenii trimenii
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Satyrinae. Tribe: Satyrini.

© nan
Witzenberg, Western Cape

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 40–52 mm ♀ 44–56 mm. Antenna-wing ratio – male 0.45, female 0.42. A fast moving butterfly with brown wings and an "eye" spot with two white dots at each fore wingtip. Characterized on the forewing upperside by the two distinct orange-red areas, one inside and one outside the cell. The anal margin of the hindwing is pure white. Conspicuously white veins on the underside. Antennal club broad and spoon-shaped.
The flight is rapid and jerky.
Pseudonympha trimenii trimenii is characterized by the square shape of the forewing and small, irregular dark markings in the brownish area of the hindwing underside.

Pseudonympha trimenii has four subspecies:
Pseudonympha trimenii trimenii (south-western Cape)
Pseudonympha trimenii nieuwveldensis (Nieuwveld Mountains in the south-western Cape)
Pseudonympha trimenii ruthae (Eastern Cape)
Pseudonympha trimenii namaquana (Northern Cape)

Distribution
Western Cape (Table Mountain; Muizenberg; Tygerberg; Paarl; Worcester; Ceres; Drakenstein mountains; Franschhoek; Cedarberg; Elandskloof; Seven Weeks Poort; Zwartberg Pass; Riversdale; Oudtshoorn)



Habitat
Mountains and hillsides in montane grassland. Specimens frequently settle on the ground or on low vegetation.

Biology
Adults are on wing from early September to late November. There is one generation per year.
Larval foodplants: The larvae feed on Poaceae grasses, including Danthonia stricta and other coarse, wiry grasses.

Links: Metamorphosis - Genus Pseudonympha

[Toko]

Wichgraf’s Hillside Brown Stygionympha wichgrafi (Wichgraf-se-rantbruintjie)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Satyrinae. Tribe: Satyrini.

© BluTuna
Stygionympha wichgrafi wichgrafi, Marakele National Park

Description
Wingspan 40–50 mm. Sexes similar; female havier, with stouter abdomen and more elongated wings. Pale, golden brown ground colour (variable). Hind wing underside grey-brown ground colour irrorated with tiny short dark red-brown striae grouped into ill-defined bands, sometimes with large ocelli in apical and anal areas. Underside forewing basal rust red patch reahces as far as apical ocellus. Males establish territories on the peaks of rocky ridges and patrol back and forth. The flight is rapid and jerky. Specimens settle on rocks or on the ground.
Similar species: Wings more angular than the larger Western or Eastern Hillside Browns. Can be differentiated from Stygionympha vigilans and Stygionympha scotina by the lighter ground colour of the upperside, and a clear ocellus in area 6 of the hindwing underside.

Stygionympha wichgrafi has four subspecies:
Stygionympha wichgrafi wichgrafi (hills of the Orange Free State, Gauteng, Limpopo Province, North Western Province and Mpumalanga)
Stygionympha wichgrafi lannini (Zimbabwe, Mozambique)
Stygionympha wichgrafi williami (KwaZulu-Natal, the Orange Free State and from the mountains of Lesotho to the eastern Cape)
Stygionympha wichgrafi grisea (low altitude hinterland of the KwaZulu-Natal coast)

Distribution
It is found in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Lesotho, eSwatini.

Habitat
Rocky ridges in montane grassland. Subspecies grisea is found in sub-coastal grassland. Sometimes found in grassy areas between patches of montane forest.

Biology
Flight period: Adults are on wing from August to March. There are probably multiple generations per year.
The larvae probably feed on Poaceae grasses.

Links: Metamorphosis