Abantis paradisea

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Abantis paradisea
Abantis paradisea - inat 194785155.jpg
Abantis paradisea, South Africa
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Abantis
Species:
A. paradisea
Binomial name
Abantis paradisea
(Butler, 1870) [2]
Synonyms [3]
  • Leucochitonea paradisea Butler, 1870
  • Hesperia namaquana Westwood, 1874

Abantis paradisea, the paradise skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in KwaZulu-Natal, Zululand, Transvaal, Eswatini, Zimbabwe and from Botswana to Somalia.

The wingspan is 40–45 mm (1.6–1.8 in) for males and 43–55 mm (1.7–2.2 in) for females. Adults are on wing year-round with peaks in autumn from April to June and in spring from August to November. [4]

The larvae feed on Hibiscus tiliaceus , Cola natalensis , Annona species, Bridelia cathartica , Bridelia micrantha , Pseudolachnostylis maprouneifolia , Lonchocarpus capassa and Lecaniodiscus fraxinifolius .

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References

  1. Dobson, J.C.H.; Westrip, J.R.S. (2020). "Abantis paradisea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T161280641A161280650. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161280641A161280650.en . Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  2. Abantis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  3. "Abantis paradisea". Catalogue of Life . Species 2000: Leiden, the Netherlands. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
  4. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.