Africa Wild

Guineafowl Butterfly, Road Inspector Hamanumida daedalus (Tarentaaltjie)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Limenitidinae. Tribe: Adolidaini.


Ithala GR, KwaZulu-Natal

Description
The genus Hamanumida comprises of a single species - daedalus, which is popularly known as the Guineafowl due to it's colour and pattern which resembles that of the guineafowl bird.
Large: Wingspan: ♂ 55–65 mm ♀ 60–78 mm
Unmistakable. Grey with black-ringed white spots. Underside of wings orange with well marked white spots.
Well-worn specimens may appear dull.
Sexes similar.

Distribution
Hamanumida daedalus is widespread across Africa including Madagascar. It also occurs in the Arab states.

Habitat
Common and widespread in savanna, arid savanna and lowland forest. It is found at altitudes between sea level and about 800 m. It is associated mainly with dry, rocky grassland where there are scattered bushes and trees, but also rapidly colonises abandoned agricultural land.

Biology
The butterflies are normally seen singly or in two's and three's. Males will mud-puddle at the edges of fords and small streams, but both sexes are more commonly seen aggregating at the top of hills where courtship and copulation take place. They fly very low over the ground, and frequently settle to bask on bare ground or on rocks or boulders, frequently settling with its wings open. At all times they remain very alert, taking flight at the slightest disturbance.
Flight period: Continuously brooded; peaks in midwinter and midsummer.
Larvae feed on Velvet Bushwillow Combretum molle and Silver Cluster-leaf Terminalia sericea.

© Heksie
Kruger National Park

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

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park

© nan

© nan
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

© mposthumus
Kruger National Park, Parfuri

Spotted Sailer Neptis saclava marpessa (Spikkel-swerwer)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Limenitidinae. Tribe: Limenitidini

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park, Tsendze camp

© GlosterBirder
Tydon Safari Camp, Sabi Sands, South Africa

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 40–45 mm ♀ 45–48 mm. Sexes similar. Dark brown with white bands and spots on upper side of wings.
Differs from other Neptis species in having a pale, mottled underside.

Distribution
Southern Africa. From E Cape (Zuurberg, near Port Elizabeth) to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and NW provinces, and Gauteng.

Habitat
Lowland Forests and dense riverine bush in savanna. Attracted to fermenting plant matter and wet earth. Flies or fl oats, apparently aimlessly, round trees and shrubs, frequently settling on leaves.

Biology
Flight period: Year-round in warmer areas, peak December to May.
Larvae feed on the Caster Oil Bush Ricinus communis, Forest False-nettle Acalypha glabrata and the Hiccup Nut Combretum bracteosum.

© GlosterBirder


Links: https://www.metamorphosis.org.za/articl ... ricius.pdf

Spotted Joker Byblia ilithyia Leliegrasvegter
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Biblidinae. Tribe: Biblidini

© Flutterby
Kruger National Park

© mposthumus

© mposthumus

© mposthumus

Description
Wingspan: males 40-45 mm females 40-48 mm. Orange butterfly with black markings.
Slightly smaller than the Common Joker. The two similar species of Jokers are most easily separated by the presence (in B. ilithyia) or absence of a median row of small black discal dots on the hindwing upperside. In addition the black costal margin of the forewing is narrower in B. ilithyia and does not extend as far towards the outer margin of the wing.
The underwing is more brown than orange in the dry-season form. The underwing is light orange in the wet-season form.

Distribution
Africa and Asia. Parts of Africa, central and southern India, and Sri Lanka. Distribution in Southern Africa: Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana (north), Nambia (north), South Africa (Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, North West Province, Gauteng, Free State Province, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province), Swaziland, Lesotho.

Habitat
Widespread in coastal and inland savanna and grassland.

Biology
Foodplants: The Common Joker and Spotted Joker have the same larval food plants, namely the Stinging Nettle Creeper Tragia glabrata and the Wild Hop Dalechampia capensis.
Flight period: Continuous broods, peak Nov–Mar, smaller peak May–Apr.

Links: SUBFAMILY BIBLIDINAE (DOC)

© Pumbaa & Timon

© Pumbaa & Timon
Rhino Trail, Berg-en-Dal Rest Camp, Kruger National Park

© BluTuna
Red Rocks, Kruger National Park

© BluTuna
Shingwedzi, Kruger National Park

Golden Piper Eurytela dryope angulata (Oranjelint-bosvlieër)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Biblidinae. Tribe: Biblidini

© BluTuna
Kruger National Park

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 40–50 mm, ♀ 45–55 mm. The upperside of the wings is dark brown with a wide, yellow-orange band in the lower two-thirds of the forewing margin and the outer half of the hindwing. The width of the hindwing band varies considerably. The underside of the wings is variegated in shades of brown.
Similar to the Pied Piper, but wing bands orange, not white, on a brown ground colour. Flight slightly faster.

Distribution
Sub-Saharan Africa, the Arabian peninsula and Madagascar.
Widespread in Southern Africa: Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape.

Habitat
Forests and wooded savanna.

Biology
Flight period: Year-round, peak November–June. The adults feed on fermenting fruit, tree sap and nectar.
Laval stage feed on Tragia glabrata, Dalechamoia capensis, and Ricinus communis.

© Peter Connan
Maphelane, iSimangaliso

Common Diadem Hypolimnas misippus (Blouglans (male), Na-aper (female))
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Nymphalinae. Tribe: Junoniini

© nan
Female, Waterberg NP, Namibia

© Sonel

© Sonel
Female form inaria

© Sonel
Hartebeespoort Dam, North West Province, South Africa

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 60–65 mm ♀ 70–80 mm
Male is a strong flier and is territorial on hilltops and in forest clearings.
Sexes dimorphic, distinctive.
Males are monomorphic, black with three pairs of white patches, the two larger, one on each wing, ringed with irridescent purple.
Polymorphic females are mimics of all forms of the unpalatable African Monarch. The females are almost plain orange on the upperside.

Distribution
Africa, Asia, and Australia. Their distribution in South Africa covers mostly the warmer north eastern part.

Habitat
Prefers wooded country and often visits gardens and flowers. This species is extremely adaptable and can be found in many habitats including desert, savannah, acacia scrub, well vegetated beaches, open areas within tropical rainforest, and is a regular visitor to botanical gardens and flowers wastelands.

Biology
Flight period: Flight period is year-round, peak late summer


© Flutterby
Male, Kruger Naional Park S 114 (April 2016)


Links: The genetics of the butterfly Hypolimnas misippus
http://www.metamorphosis.org.za/article ... uebner.pdf

Variable Diadem Hypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi (Verneukertjie)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Nymphalinae. Tribe: Junoniini

© Tina
Hypolimnas anthedon wahlbergi f. wahlbergi, Siyaya Dune Forest trail, Umlalazi Nature Reserve

© Pumbaa
Kruger National Park, Berg en Dal camp

© Michele Nel
Kruger National Park, Letaba camp


Description
Wingspan: ♂ 75–80 mm ♀ 75–90 mm.
Highly mimetic, occurring in two distinct forms: mima (mimics Amauris albimaculata - the layman) and wahlbergi (mimics Amauris niavius dominicanus - the friar). The two forms are so different that for years they were believed to be separate species; in 1910, however, the results of breeding experiments were published which proved that the female of one form could produce offspring of its own and the other form. Sexes similar in boths forms.
The pale markings are better developed than in the nominate subspecies. Upperside black and white.

Distribution
Widespread in forested areas over much of tropical Africa.
Democratic Republic of Congo (east), Ethiopia, Kenya (east of the Rift Valley), Tanzania (east), Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, South Africa (Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province), Lesotho, Swaziland.

Habitat
Essentially a species of warm forests. Forest edges, flatland, gullies, coast. Often found along forest streams where there is a break in the canopy. Roosts in holes under tree roots.

Biology
Flight period: Flight period is year-round, peak late summer.
Foodplant: Laportea peduncularis (Urticaceae).

Links: Genus Hypolimnas Hübner, 1819 - Metamorphosis
http://www.metamorphosis.org.za/article ... uebner.pdf

Clouded Mother-of-pearl Protogoniomorpha anacardii nebulosa (Newelperlemoen)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Nymphalinae. Tribe: Junoiini

© Amoli

© Amoli

© Amoli

© Amoli
Kruger National Park, near Skukuza, South Africa

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 55–68 mm ♀ 65–75 mm. The upper surface of the wings is white, with a mother-of-pearl sheen. Seasonal forms differ considerably. Sexes slightly different, the female has broader dark margins, sometimes with a golden sheen as in wet season form lurida (female). The dry season form trimeni is larger and wings are more angular than in the form lurida.
Similar species: Similar to the Common Mother-of-pearl, but smaller and lacks green gloss.

Taxonomy
Protogoniomorpha was viewed as part of the genus Salamis by Ackery et al. (1995), but Wahlberg et al. (2005) showed that it is a distinct genus.
This butterfly has four subspecies; these are Protogoniomorpha anacardii anacardii (Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, western Nigeria, Central African Republic to the Rift Valley), P. anacardii ansorgei (Angola, southern Democratic Republic of Congo), P. anacardii duprei (Madagascar) and P. anacardii nebulosa (Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Yemen).

Distribution
This species ranges from Sierra Leone in the relatively narrow band of forest-savannah transition through West Africa to Sudan, and Yemen. The range also covers most of East Africa to the tropical parts of southern Africa, where the habitat is less specialized. There is a distinct subspecies on Madagascar.
In South Africa: Eastern Cape (Port St Johns) along KwaZulu-Natal cost to Kosi Bay, Emanguzi and the Lembobo Mountains. Also along escarpment foothills to Swaziland, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Habitat
Lowland, riverine forests, savanna. Forest edges, gullies, deep wooded kloofs. It follows wooded river valleys into dry savanna and feeds on flowers.

Biology
Flight period is year-round, peaking in summer and autumn.
Foodplants: Asystasia, Isoglossa, Justicia species.

Garden Commodore, Garden Inspector Precis archesia (Rotsblaarvlerk)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Nymphalinae. Tribe: Junoniini

© Alf
Wet season form. Garden in Gauteng, Nov 2020.




© BluTuna
Dry season form. Garden in Johannesburg.

Description
A medium-sized butterfly. Wingspan: males 45-50 mm females 50-60 mm. Sexes similar. Dull brown body.
Seasonal difference in colour between the DSF (P. f. archesia) and WSF (P. f. pelasgis).
Dry season form: Red band with small white spots across both pairs of wings. Forewing has blue patches on inner and outer margin and two white patches below apex.
Wet season form: Bright yellow band with small brown spots, forming 'Y at front margin of forewing, both pairs of wings spotted with white along margins.'

Distribution
Subsaharan Africa. The most familiar Precis in South Africa. Range in Southern Africa: Zambia to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa (Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, North West Province, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape Province to the south-east).

Habitat
Very common on grassy areasy and rocky slopes and elsewhere in wetter areas of Southern Africa. Attracted to garden flowers.
DSF roosts in hollows under banks and rocks. WSF more often found on hilltops.

Biology
Flight period is year-round with two main broods: P. f. pelasgis (WSF) Sept–Mar; P. f. archesia (DSF) Apr–Aug.
Active during heat of day.
Foodplants: include Plectranthus esculentus, Plectranthus fruticosus, Rabdosiella calycina, Pycnostachys reticulata, and Pycnostachys urticifolia.

Links:
https://www.metamorphosis.org.za/articl ... uebner.pdf

Gaudy Commodore Precis octavia sesamus (Rooi-en-blou-blaarvlerk)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Nymphalinae. Tribe: Junoniini


Ithala Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, dry season form (winter form)

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 50–60 mm ♀ 55–63 mm. Great seasonal difference in colour between the DSF (blue) and WSF (pink to orange-red).
The southern subspecies (Precis octavia sesamus) has a summer form which is red with black markings, and a winter form which is blue with a line of red markings on the wings. The winter form is slightly larger than the summer form. In both forms the males and females are alike, however the females are slightly larger. Intermediate forms of the Gaudy Commodore are rare, but display a wide range of mixtures of the wing patterns of both forms.

Subspecies
Precis octavia octavia (eastern Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Central African Republic, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, northern and central Democratic Republic of Congo)
Precis octavia sesamus Trimen, 1883 (Uganda, Angola, southern and eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya to Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, northern Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland)

Distribution
Native to Africa. The southern subspecies (Precis octavia sesamus) is found from the border region of the Eastern and Western Cape in South Africa and along the eastern side of South Africa, to Swaziland, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.

Habitat
Bushveld, forest egdes, gardens. The winter form (DSF) prefers shady places, to settle under a bank or in some deep road cutting. The summer form (WSF) prefers hilltops, koppies and mountain peaks. Regular visitor to gardens.

Biology
Flight period: All year, with distinct seasonal dimorphism: DSF Mar–Aug, WSF Aug–Mar.
The adults feed on nectar and have an all year flight period, with the winter form found from March to September and the summer form found from October to March.
The two forms are not only different in appearance, but also display different behavior:
The males of the summer form display conspicuous hilltopping, and show both territorial and perching behaviour. They fly between one and two meters off the ground with a medium-fast “flap-flap-glide” motion. They are often found in grasslands.
The male winter form rarely hilltops, has a random flight pattern, and is often found near forests. In cold weather, the winter form hibernates in holes or under overhanging rocks. Up to 35 individuals may gather together in these places.
The summer and winter form have been seen mating with each other.
Life cycle: The eggs are tiny, rounded, green domes with ribs running up the sides. The larvae are variable; orange, or orange with black bands, or almost completely black. The final-instar larvae are black when reared at the lower temperatures associated with the winter form, and bright orange when reared at the slightly higher summer temperatures. Larval food plants include Plectranthus esculentus, Plectranthus fruticosus, Rabdosiella calycina, Pycnostachys reticulata and Pycnostachys urticifolia. The pupae hang upside-down and have a knobbley appearance.

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

Yellow Pansy Junonia hierta cebrene (Geel-gesiggie)
Family: Nymphalidae. Subfamily: Nymphalinae. Tribe: Junoniini



© Super Mongoose
Vaalkop Dam Nature Reserve, North West Province

Description
Wingspan: ♂ 40–45 mm ♀ 40–50 mm.
The male upperside is bright yellow. The dorsum is broadly shaded with brown while the anterior black area has a large brilliant blue spot. Its grey underside provides good protection while at rest - if the wings are closed. The antennae is pale, and the head, thorax and abdomen are dark brownish black. The female is similar, although the colours are duller. The male does not have the black spots on its yellow patches.

Distribution
The Palaeotropics. Common and widespread. This is a savannah species with migratory capacity that is among the most widely distributed butterflies in Africa, probably having been found in all countries.

Habitat
It usually flies close to the ground, preferring open ground, grassy spots and gardens.

Biology
Flight period: Year-round in warmer areas, peaks Oct and Nov, and Feb–May. Male establishes territories near patches of open ground.
Foodplants: Justicia, Asystasia, Barleria species.

© GlosterBirder
Tydon Safari Camp, Sabi Sands

© BluTuna
Garden in Johannesburg

© Sprocky
Grietjie Private Reserve, Balule

© Richprins
Nelspruit

Links:
http://www.metamorphosis.org.za/article ... uebner.pdf