Acraea esebria

Acraea esebria, the dusky acraea, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae from southern and eastern Africa.

Side view of mating pair

Dusky acraea
Acraea esebria form monteironis
Orange form male mating with female of another colour form
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Acraea
Species:
A. esebria
Binomial name
Acraea esebria
Hewitson, 1861
Synonyms
  • Telchinia esebria (Hewitson, 1861)
  • Planema jacksoni Sharpe, 1890
  • Acraea (Actinote) esebria
  • Acraea protea Trimen, 1862
  • Planema metaprotea Butler, 1874
  • Planema monteironis Butler, 1874
  • Planema arctifascia Butler, 1874
  • Planema pseudoprotea Butler, 1874
  • Planema amphiprotea Butler, 1874
  • Planema jacksoni Sharpe, 1890
  • Acraea ertli Aurivillius, 1904
  • Acraea esebria f. nubilata Eltringham, 1912
  • Acraea jodutta f. inaureata Eltringham, 1912
  • Acraea esebria f. kibwezia Strand, 1913
  • Acraea esebria var. actinotis Neustetter, 1916
  • Acraea esebria f. swynnertoni O'Neal, 1919
  • Acraea esebria f. victoris Poulton, 1927
  • Acraea esebria f. flavibrunnea Stoneham, 1943
  • Acraea esebria f. pallidibrunnea Stoneham, 1943

Description

The dusky acraea is a variable species, but the most common form is black with a white band across the forewing and a white patch on the lower forewing and on the hindwing.[1] There are a number of described morphs (with white, yellow or orange patches) including:

  • f. ertli
  • f. esebria
  • f. protea (black with creamy-yellow patches)
  • f. monteironis (black with white patches)
  • f. jacksoni

The wingspan is 45–55 mm for males and 53–60 mm for females. Males and females both show the same range of colouration.[1]

Distribution

This species is found from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Zimbabwe and in Mozambique,[1] Malawi, Zambia, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Shaba), Angola, Tanzania and eastern Kenya (east of the Rift Valley).

Life cycle

Eggs

The eggs are oval in shape.[2]

Larvae

The larvae feed on Urtica, Laportea peduncularis, Urera trinervis, Urera hypselodendron, Obetia tenax, Pouzolzia procridioides, Pouzolzia parasitica and Fleurya mitis.[3]

Adults

Adults are on wing year round but are more common in the warmer months,[3] from December to April.[1] These butterflies fly slowly in and around forests and feed from flowers.[1]

References
  1. Williams, M. (1994). Butterflies of Southern Africa: A Field Guide. Southern Book Publishers. ISBN 1-86812-516-5.
  2. Woodhall, S. (2008). What's that Butterfly?. Struik Publishers, Cape Town. ISBN 978-1-77007-486-6.
  3. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
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