Gegenes hottentota

Gegenes hottentota
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Hesperiidae
Genus:	Gegenes
Species:	G. hottentota
Binomial name
Gegenes hottentota (Latreille, 1824) [1]
Synonyms
Hesperia hottentotaLatreille, 1824 Pamphila obumbrataTrimen, 1891

Gegenes hottentota, the marsh Hottentot skipper, Hottentot skipper or Latreille's skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Africa and south-western Arabia. The habitat consists of marshy areas with thick grass, especially in valleys. ^[2]

The wingspan is 31–34 mm for males, and 31–36 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round in warmer areas (with a peak from April to May). ^[3]

The larvae feed on Oldenlandia corymbosa .

References

1. Gegenes at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
2. Afrotropical Butterflies: Hesperiidae - Subfamily Hesperiinae
3. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.