Butterflies of
Africa
Orange Admiral
Antanartia delius
DRURY, 1782
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - NYMPHALINI
Antanartia delius,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
Introduction
In appearance and behaviour
Antanartia could be thought of as the African "sister" genus to the
Neotropical Hypanartia, but phylogenetic analysis
has indicated that they are actually more closely related to the Red Admirals
and Painted Ladies - Vanessa.
Antanartia
comprises of 5 species, 4 of which occur on the continental land mass, while the
other - borbonica, is found only on Mauritius,
Reunion and Madagascar.
The Orange Admiral
Antanartia delius is a widespread and common
species, which is distributed from Sierra Leone to Congo, Uganda and western
Tanzania.
Habitats
This species is found in forest glades and
clearings, along logging roads, in forest edge habitats, and on overgrown
farmland, at altitudes between sea level and about 800m.
Lifecycle
The main larval foodplant in West Africa is Musanga
( Moraceae ) although Australina,
Urtica and Pouzolzia
are apparently used in other areas.
Adult behaviour
In overcast weather males can
sometimes be seen basking with wings fully outspread. In sunny
conditions
they usually
perch on the leaf of a bush,
with wings held half open. There they wait for passing females,
chasing them up into nearby trees where copulation takes place.
Neither sex seem to be attracted to
flowers, but both will visit decomposing fruit.
Antanartia delius,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
|
