Metisella syrinx

Last updated

Bamboo sylph
SeitzFaunaAfricanaXIIITaf78.JPG
a
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Metisella
Species:
M. syrinx
Binomial name
Metisella syrinx
(Trimen, 1868) [2]
Synonyms
  • Cyclopides syrinxTrimen, 1868

Metisella syrinx, the bamboo sylph or bamboes-walsertjie, 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. [3]

Contents

Distribution

M. syrinx is endemic to the Eastern Cape in South Africa, from Gaika's Kop (near Hogsback), and near Bedford. [1]

Description

The wingspan is 32–34 mm for males and 32–37 mm for females. Adults are on wing from January to February. There is one generation per year. [4]

Ecology

The larvae feed on the sole bamboo species in South Africa and Lesotho, Bergbambos .

Related Research Articles

Lepidochrysops loewensteini, the Loewenstein's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa and Lesotho. It is mainly found in Lesotho and on the high slopes above Dulcie's Nek in the Eastern Cape.

<i>Metisella</i> Genus of butterflies

Metisella is a genus of skippers, commonly called sylphs, in the family Hesperiidae found in Africa. For other sylphs see genera Astictopterus, Willema, and Tsitana.

<i>Trida barberae</i> Species of butterfly

Trida barberae, or Barber's ranger, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in southern Africa, from the Cape Province to Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Transvaal, the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.

Trida sarahae, or Sarah's ranger, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is only known from the Cederberg mountains in the Western Cape.

<i>Aeropetes</i> Genus of butterflies

Aeropetes is a monotypic butterfly genus in the family Nymphalidae. Its only species, Aeropetes tulbaghia, is commonly known as the Table Mountain beauty or mountain pride. It is native to southern Africa, where it occurs in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini and Zimbabwe.

<i>Pseudonympha paludis</i> Species of butterfly

Pseudonympha paludis, the paludis brown, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Eastern Cape to Lesotho, the eastern part of the Free State, the Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal and high altitude mountains in Mpumalanga.

Spialia asterodia, the star sandman or Asterodia sandman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa from the western Cape to the southern part of the north Cape and across the east Cape to Lesotho, the Free State, Eswatini, western KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province, the eastern North West Province and Gauteng. It is also present in southern Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of grassland and grassy areas in fynbos, Karoo and Bushveld.

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

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

Metisella malgacha, the grassveld sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Cape, Free State, Lesotho, Transvaal, and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The habitat consists of grassland and grassy areas in the fynbos and Karoo.

<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 meninx, the marsh sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to the wet vleis 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.

Tsitana tsita, the dismal sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Winterberg and Amatolas in the eastern Cape along the Drakensberg into Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal down to sea level from Durban across the midlands to the Tugela, the Free State, the eastern part of the North West Province and Gauteng into the Limpopo Province. It is also present in Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of grassland at altitudes between sea level and 2,600 metres.

Nervia mohozutza, the fulvous ranger or harlequin skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from South Africa to Kenya, Zaire and Uganda.

Nervia chaca, commonly known as Shaka's ranger or Shaka's skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa, from the southern and eastern slopes of the Drakensberg foothills in the eastern Cape through the Kokstad area into KwaZulu-Natal.

Kedestes lepenula, the chequered ranger or chequered skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the central East Cape through the western part of the Free State, the eastern part of North West Province into the dry western parts of the Limpopo Province up to Polokwane. It is also found in Botswana.

<i>Kedestes macomo</i> Species of butterfly

Kedestes macomo, the Macomo ranger, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Nigeria to Transvaal, East Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It is also found in Somalia.

<i>Dotta callicles</i> Species of butterfly

Dotta callicles, the pale ranger, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa, Eswatini, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.

Lepidochrysops lerothodi, the Lesotho blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found mainly found in Lesotho. In South Africa it is only found on high mountain peaks in the Golden Gate Highlands in Limpopo province, the Free State and the Eastern Cape.

<i>Bergbambos</i> Species of bamboo endemic to South Africa

Bergbambostessellata is a bamboo native to the south-eastern highlands of South Africa and Lesotho. It is the sole species in the monotypic genus Bergbambos, belonging to the family Poaceae.

References

  1. 1 2 Dobson, J.C.H.; Dobson, C.M. (2020). "Metisella syrinx". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T13274A168304455. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T13274A168304455.en . Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  2. Metisella at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  3. "Afrotropical Butterflies: Hesperiidae - Subfamily Heteropterinae". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2012-11-08.
  4. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.