Metisella meninx

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Marsh sylph
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Metisella
Species:
M. meninx
Binomial name
Metisella meninx
(Trimen, 1873) [1]
Synonyms
  • Cyclopides meninxTrimen, 1873
  • Thymelicus meninx
  • Cyclopides argentiostriatusPlötz, 1886

Metisella meninx, the marsh sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to the wet vleis (shallow lakes) of highland grassland in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the northern part of the Free State and the extreme east of the North West Province. It has become extinct in many areas close to Johannesburg due to building developments.

The wingspan is 26–28 mm for males and 27–29 mm for females. Adults are on wing from December to March (with a peak from January to February). There is one extended generation per year. [2] Both sexes feed from flowers, those recorded including Scabiosa columbaria , Persicaria attenuata , Veronica anagallis-aquatica and Conyza podocephala . Males occasionally drink from damp spots with decaying vegetation. [3]

The larvae feed on Poaceae marsh grass species, including Leersia hexandra .

Related Research Articles

<i>Metisella</i> Genus of butterflies

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<i>Spialia nanus</i> Species of butterfly

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Metisella aegipan, the mountain sylph or Shaka's ranger, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the mountains of the Cape in South Africa and in Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. The habitat consists of wetlands, marshy places, and grassy gullies in montane grassland.

<i>Metisella malgacha</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Metisella metis</i> Species of butterfly

Metisella metis, the gold spotted sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Cape and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

<i>Willema willemi</i> Species of butterfly

Willema willemi, the netted sylph, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from South Africa (Transvaal), Botswana, and Zimbabwe to Kenya, Uganda, and Somalia. The habitat consists of savanna and densely wooded clumps of bush.

Metisella syrinx, the bamboo sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is a rare and highly localised species which is only known from South Africa in the eastern Cape, through southern Lesotho to the extreme south of KwaZulu-Natal. The habitat consists of rocky areas on the summits of mountains, in montane grassland.

<i>Andronymus neander</i> Species of butterfly

Andronymus neander, the common dart or nomad dart, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in tropical Africa. The habitat consists of moist woodland, forest margins and riparian vegetation, from sea level up to altitudes of 2,400 metres.

Platylesches picanini, the banded hopper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, south-western Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, northern Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and South Africa. The habitat consists of forests, riparian vegetation along river courses, woodland, dry forests and Guinea savanna.

Borbo fatuellus, the long horned swift, long horned skipper or foolish swift, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in tropical Africa and south-western Arabia. The habitat consists of wet forests, moist woodland and coastal bush.

Borbo fallax, the false swift, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in tropical Africa. In South Africa it is found in Eswatini, coastal KwaZulu-Natal, northern Gauteng and the Limpopo Province and the extreme north-east of the North West Province. The habitat consists of coastal bush and moist savanna.

<i>Borbo micans</i> Species of butterfly

Borbo micans, the marsh swift, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in tropical Africa. In South Africa it is restricted to the riverine and lowland forests of KwaZulu-Natal and swamp areas close to Manguzi Forest, the Pongola River and Kosi Bay in Maputaland. The habitat consists of swamps and marshes in open country or near streams and lakes in rainforests.

<i>Parnara monasi</i> Species of butterfly

Parnara monasi, the water watchman or water skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, the Gambia, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Africa and Eswatini. The habitat consists of marshes, grassy river-banks and riverine forests in savanna settings.

<i>Gegenes hottentota</i> Species of butterfly

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.

Metisella abdeli, the eastern sylph, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Eswatini. The habitat consists of forests.

Metisella medea, the Medea sylph, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi. The habitat consists of submontane meadows.

<i>Metisella midas</i> Species of butterfly

Metisella midas, the golden sylph or Midas sylph, is a butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of damp, grassy edges of evergreen forests and grassy areas on the edges of submontane forests.

Willema tsadicus, the northern netted sylph, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Guinea, north-eastern Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, southern Sudan, northern Uganda and south-western Ethiopia.

References

  1. Metisella at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.
  3. "Afrotropical Butterflies: Hesperiidae - Subfamily Heteropterinae". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2012-11-08.