Butterflies of
Africa
Spotted Ciliate Blue
Anthene larydas
CRAMER, 1780
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
POLYOMMATINAE
Tribe -
LYCAENESTHINI
Anthene larydas,
Wli Falls, Ghana / Togo border
Introduction
The genus
Anthene ( which here includes
Neuellipes, Triclema and
Neurypexina ) comprises about 132 species, of which
8 are found in south-east Asia and 1 is endemic to Australia.
The 123 remaining
species are all confined to the African continent. Only 1 species
princeps occurs on Madagascar.
Anthene
larydas is found from the Gambia to western Kenya ( Kakamega ).
Habitats
This species is found in relatively open rainforest habitats including along
roadsides and the edges of wide trails, and penetrates into the savannah
zone where there are patches of forest alongside rivers or streams.
Anthene larydas,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
Lifecycle
The caterpillars feed on
Acacia, Albizia, Dichrostachys
( Fabaceae ), and Hypericum ( Clusiaceae ). They
are frequently attended by ants ( Crematogaster,
Pheidole and Camponotus ) which
"milk" them to obtain sugary substances exuded from a dorsal gland. The
relationship is symbiotic - or at least mutually beneficial, as the presence of ants deters predatory
or parasitic wasps and flies.
Adult behaviour
The adults are usually found in quite large numbers - it is not
uncommon to find 50 or more males of this species imbibing
mineralised moisture from patches of damp ground on hot sunny
days.
Males perch on low foliage to await
passing females. They hold their wings erect in sunny weather but
bask with wings half open or fully open in hazy or cloudy
conditions. Females are normally seen either basking on the
foliage of bushes, or nectaring at flowers.
Anthene larydas,
Likpe Hills, Ghana / Togo border
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