Butterflies of
Africa
False Dotted Border
Belenois thysa
HOPFFER, 1855
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe - PIERINI
Belenois thysa,
Ethiopia
© Peter
Bruce-Jones
Introduction
The genus Belenois
comprises of about 30 species, of which 25 occur in the Afrotropical region.
Males of most species are pure
white, with well defined black markings, while females usually have browner and
more suffused markings, on a dull white or creamy ground colour.
The most widespread species is
aurota, which is found across most of Africa,
Arabia, the Indian subcontinent, and also periodically as a migrant, in
Afghanistan and Iran. In Africa it sometimes swarms in thousands, and can be
found in almost any habitat.
Belenois
thysa can be confused with Dixeia orbona,
which has a very similar underside, but is significantly smaller, and has more
rounded forewings.
Habitats
This butterfly can be found in dense
savannah and open forest, at altitudes between sea level and at least 2000m.
Lifecycle
The
larval foodplants include Capparis,
Maerua and Ritchiea ( Capparaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Males are usually seen as singletons
amidst aggregations of other Pierines, visiting damp patches of
sandy ground from which they imbibe mineralised moisture. Females
are seen less often, but visit Tridax,
Lantana and other flowers for nectar.
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