Butterflies of
Africa
White-banded Castor
Ariadne albifascia
JOICEY & TALBOT, 1921
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EURYTELINI
Ariadne albifascia,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
Introduction
The
Biblidinae are a subfamily of butterflies with over 350 species
worldwide, the vast majority of which are Neotropical. In the
Afrotropical region there 30 species, in the genera Byblia,
Ariadne,
Eurytela, Neptidopsis,
Sevenia and
Mesoxantha.
The genus
Ariadne comprises of 14 species, of
which 5 occur in Africa - actisanes,
pagenstecheri,
enotrea,
albifascia and personata.
The remaining species are distributed variously from India to
the Philippines, and the islands of south-east Asia.
Ariadne albifascia is distributed
from Senegal to Uganda.
Ariadne albifascia,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
Habitats
This species is found along roadsides in forested habitats,
and also in clearings, along riverbanks, and on agricultural land.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Tragia
and Dalechampia ( Euphorbiaceae ).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies
have a slow, graceful flight, flitting and gliding, weaving and
winding, among bushes and the lower foliage of trees. Males
rarely pause to rest for more than a moment or two, except when
mud-puddling. Both sexes visit flowers for nectar.
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