Acraea axina

Last updated

Little acraea
AcraeaSpecies2, Acraea axina.jpg
Acraea axina in Seitz (1925)
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Acraea
Species:
A. axina
Binomial name
Acraea axina
Westwood, 1881 [2] [3]
Synonyms
  • Acraea axina f. illuminatavan Son, 1963

Acraea axina, the little acraea, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in south-west Africa, in KwaZulu-Natal, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Transvaal, Botswana, and Malawi.

Contents

Description

The wingspan is 35–40 mm for males and 36–44 mm for females. A. axina Westw. (55 e) is a small species, only measuring 30 to 50 mm., and recalls oncaea and in many respects also doubledayi ; the wings above have the ground-colour reddish-yellow or grey-yellow, at the base, especially on the hind wing, blackish; fore wing at the apex and distal margin narrowly black with black veins and short black streaks on the folds in 3 to 5; marginal band of the hindwing above deep black, unspotted, 1 mm. in breadth, beneath with semicircular whitish marginal spots; wings beneath light yellowish with orange- yellow or reddish spots; beyond discal dots 4 to 6 on the forewing the ground-colour is usually somewhat lighter. Angola and Damaraland to Rhodesia and Nyassaland. [4]

Taxonomy

It is a member of the Acraea caecilia species group. See also Pierre & Bernaud, 2014. [5]

Biology

Adults are on wing year round, with a peak from September to May. There are multiple generations per year. [6]

References

  1. Woodhall, S.E.; Westrip, J.R.S. (2020). "Acraea axina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020 e.T161108A161315316. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161108A161315316.en . Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Westwood, J.O, 1881 Entomology in, Matabele Land and the Victoria Falls in Oates, Matabeland : 331-365, pl. E-H
  3. "Acraea Fabricius, 1807" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  4. Aurivillius, [P.O.] C. 1908-1924. In: Seitz, A. Die Grosschmetterlinge der Erde Band 13: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Grosschmetterlinge, Die afrikanischen Tagfalter, 1925, 613 Seiten, 80 Tafeln (The Macrolepidoptera of the World 13).Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  5. Pierre & Bernau, 2014 Classification et Liste Synonymique des Taxons du Genre Acraea pdf
  6. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.