Butterflies of
Africa
Macken's Dusky Dart
Acleros mackenii
TRIMEN, 1868
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
HESPERIINAE
Tribe -
incertae sedis
Acleros mackenii
olaus, Likpe Hills, Ghana / Togo
border
Introduction
The genus Acleros comprises
of about 12 species, of which 9-11 are found in mainland Africa.
The remaining species - leucopyga,
is endemic to Madagascar.
Acleros mackenii is found throughout sub-Saharan Africa and on
Madagascar - however the status of it's alleged subspecies is uncertain. It may turn out
to be the case that "mackenii" should be split into
2 or 3 distinct species.
Habitats
The butterfly is found mainly along tracks and roads through degraded forest, and
is commonest in lush damp areas. It also occurs in lower numbers in riparian
forest ( strips of forest growing along riverbanks in savannah-dominated areas
).
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants are listed as
Rhus ( Anacardiaceae ) and Acridocarpus
( Malpighiaceae ).
Adult behaviour
This tiny species is usually seen in two's and three's, but
sometimes it can be found in much larger numbers.
Both sexes commonly visit the flowers of herbaceous plants for
nectar. Males also visit bird droppings.
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