Tsitana tsita

Last updated

Tsitana tsita
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Tsitana
Species:
T. tsita
Binomial name
Tsitana tsita
(Trimen, 1870) [1]
Synonyms
  • Cyclopides tsitaTrimen, 1870
  • Steropes monochromusMabille, 1891

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. [2]

The wingspan is 30–38 mm for males and 32–38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from December to March (with a peak in January). There is one generation per year. [3]

The larvae feed on Stipa dregeana .

Related Research Articles

<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.

<i>Coeliades pisistratus</i> Species of butterfly

Coeliades pisistratus, the two-pip policeman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae that occurs commonly in much of sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Coeliades keithloa</i> Species of butterfly

Coeliades keithloa, the red-tab policeman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Ethiopia south to South Africa.

Apallaga mokeezi, also known as the large sprite, large flat or Christmas forester, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa and Mozambique. The habitat consists coastal forests and montane forests.

Eagris nottoana, also known as the rufous-winged flat or rufous-winged elfin, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from South Africa to Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia, and on Madagascar.

<i>Sarangesa phidyle</i> Species of butterfly

Sarangesa phidyle, also known as the orange flat or small elfin, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Botswana, south-west Africa, Saudi Arabia, Sudan. In South Africa it is found from the eastern Cape to Eswatini, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo Province, the North West Province and Gauteng.

<i>Sarangesa motozi</i> Species of butterfly

Sarangesa motozi, also known as the forest elfin or elfin skipper, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is native to southern and eastern Africa.

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.

Spialia agylla, the grassveld sandman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa.

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

Spialia dromus, the forest sandman, dromus grizzled skipper or large grizzled skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in tropical Africa. In South Africa it is found along the eastern Cape coast to KwaZulu-Natal into Eswatini. It is also present in Mpumalanga and the Limpopo Province into northern Gauteng and the extreme north-west of the North West Province.

<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.

Tsitana tulbagha, the Tulbagh sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa. The habitat consists of grassy, rocky areas in fynbos and Karoo.

Tsitana dicksoni, the Dickson's sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa where it is only known from the Franschhoek Pass and Klein Drakenstein Mountains in the Western Cape and Garcia's and Robinson Pass. The habitat consists of grassy spots in montane fynbos vegetation.

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.

<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.

Andronymus caesar, the white dart or common dart, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in tropical Africa. The habitat consists of forests, moist savannah and riverine bush, from sea level to altitudes of 1,500 metres.

Artitropa erinnys, the bush night-fighter, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa from the East Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, and Transvaal, Zimbabwe and eastern Africa.

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

Borbo lugens, the lesser horned swift or lesser horned skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in eastern Africa and South Africa. The habitat consists of grassy clearings in dense woodland and forests.

Borbo detecta, the rusty swift, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from South Africa to eastern Africa and Zaire. In South Africa it is found in Eswatini and lowland riverine forests and savannah in KwaZulu-Natal to south-eastern Mpumalanga. The habitat consists of moist woodland.

References

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