Bicyclus safitza

Bicyclus safitza, the common bush brown or common savanna bush brown, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in all of Africa south of the Sahara. Its preferred habitat is forests and other well-wooded habitats.[1]

Bicyclus safitza
Wet-season form, f. injusta
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nymphalidae
Tribe:
Elymniini
Genus:
Bicyclus
Species:
B. safitza
Binomial name
Bicyclus safitza
(Westwood, [1850])
Synonyms
  • Mycalesis safitza Westwood, [1850]
  • Papilio delila Fabricius, 1793
  • Mycalesis eusirus Hopffer, 1855
  • Mycalesis evenus Hopffer, 1855
  • Mycalesis injusta Wallengren, 1857
  • Mycalesis caffra Wallengren, 1857
  • Mycalesis safitza ab. semicoeca Strand, 1910
  • Mycalesis aethiops f. velutina Ungemach, 1932

The wingspan is 40–45 mm for males and 43–48 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round.[2]

The larvae feed on various grasses, including Ehrharta erecta.[3]

Subspecies and forms
  • B. s. safitza – south of Sahara except Ethiopia
wet-season form, f. safitza – south to Mpumalanga, South Africa
wet-season form, f. injusta – South African east coast regions
dry-season form, f. evenus – widespread
  • B. s. aethiops (Rothschild & Jordan, 1905) – Ethiopia
Dry-season form, f. evenus, lacking clear ocelli on the hindwing

References
  1. Picker, Mike; Griffiths, Charles; Weaving, Alan (2004). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. Wembley Square, First Floor, Solan Road, Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa: Struik Nature. pp. 374. ISBN 978-1-77007-061-5.
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  3. Bicyclus at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms


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