Dusky acraea | |
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Acraea esebria form monteironis | |
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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 | |
Synonyms | |
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Acraea esebria, the dusky acraea, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae from southern and eastern Africa.
The wingspan is 45–55 mm for males and 53–60 mm for females. Males and females both show the same range of colouration. [2] 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. [2] There are a number of described morphs (with white, yellow or orange patches) including:
The numerous forms of A. esebria differ especially in the colour of the light markings, in the breadth of the subapical band and the hindmarginal spot of the forewing and in the development of the dark marginal band on the upperside of the hindwing. According to Trimen the larva is light ochre-brown; each segment in the middle with a black transverse streak edged with light yellow; head black; spines black, only the lateral spines on segments 5-11 yellow; lives on species of the genus Fleurya. Pupa white with slightly yellowish tone and fine black lines and small black spots; the first three segments of the abdomen with orange- yellow, black-bordered dorsal spots, in the middle of which is placed a small elevation; the points on the head short.
The three following forms differ from the preceding in the smaller and narrower hindmarginal spot of the forewing, which always leaves the base of cellules 1 a and 1 b free and also scarcely if at all covers the base of cellule 2.
than 3.5 mm. in breadth.
This species is found from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Zimbabwe and in Mozambique, [2] Malawi, Zambia, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Shaba), Angola, Tanzania and eastern Kenya (east of the Rift Valley).
The eggs are oval in shape. [4]
The larvae feed on Urtica , Laportea peduncularis , Urera trinervis , Urera hypselodendron , Obetia tenax , Pouzolzia procridioides , Pouzolzia parasitica and Fleurya mitis . [5]
Adults are on wing year round but are more common in the warmer months, [5] from December to April. [2] These butterflies fly slowly in and around forests and feed from flowers. [2]
It is a member of the Acraea jodutta species group - but see also Pierre & Bernaud, 2014 [6]