Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
Also known as the Common Mother Of Pearl butterfly.
These handsome butterflies are found in forested areas of Africa.
Males and females of the species are similar in color and pattern.
The base color of the dorsal surface of the wings is greenish white with a violet sheen in the wet season form, and pearly white in the dry season form.
The forewing has a black tipped, hooked apex.
The wings have a few red eyespots which are ringed with black. There are black spots near the margins of both the forewings and hindwings. The ventral side of the wings has a greenish-white base color, with eyespots corresponding to those on the dorsal surface.
The flight period of adults is year round, peaking in summer and autumn.
They have a flapping, cumbersome flight which can actually be quite fast.
The males may perch on the leaves of trees in the forest, while the females stay close to the ground near the larval food plants.
These butterflies roost under leaves at night, and the males sometimes mud puddle.
* As members of the Brush Footed (Nymphalidae) family, they use their shorter pair of front legs for food tasting, and their two pairs of longer rear legs for propulsion.
Diet: caterpillars feed on Asystasia (A. gangetica), Brillantaisia, Isoglossa (I. woodii and I. mossambicensis ), Mimulopsis, and Paulowilhelmia species.
Diet: adult males take nectar and an are known to take salt and nutrients by mud puddling.
Wingspan: 6.5 – 8.0 cm / 2.55 – 3.15 “ for males and 7.5 – 9.0 cm / 2.95 – 3.54 “ for females
Family: Nymphalidae
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
