Butterflies of
Africa
Forest Glade Nymph
Aterica galene
BROWN, 1776
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe - ADOLIADINI
Aterica
galene, male, Wli Falls, Ghana / Togo border
Introduction
There
are 2 species in the genus Aterica -
galene which is distributed throughout tropical
Africa, and rabena which is endemic to Madagascar.
Aterica
galene is distributed across the forested regions of sub-Saharan Africa
from Senegal and Sierra Leone to Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
Aterica
galene, male, Bobiri forest, Ghana
Habitats
This attractive and common species is found in forested habitats where it flies
along logging roads, paths and in sunny glades.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include
Quiscalis, Combretum
and Terminalia ( Combretaceae ) and
Scotellia
( Flacourtiaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Both sexes are commonly seen basking with the forewings swept
back, while feeding at rotting fruit on the forest floor. Males
also imbibe mineralised moisture from paths and trails, usually in
places where dappled sunlight filters through to ground level.
The butterflies have a rapid flight
over short distances and usually fly close to the ground. They are
alert and take flight readily if disturbed, but return within a
minutes or two to resume feeding.
Aterica
galene, male, Bobiri forest, Ghana
Aterica
galene, female, Bobiri forest, Ghana
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