Butterflies of
Africa
Foolish Swift
Borbo fatuellus
HOPFFER, 1855
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
HESPERIINAE
Tribe -
Borbo fatuellus,
Bunso, Ghana
Introduction
There are 22 known species in the genus
Borbo, of which 18 are found in the Afrotropical region.
One of the commonest
species in Africa is the Long-horned Swift,
Borbo fatuellus, which is also
known as the Foolish Swift, although the reason why it received
that name seems to be unknown.
Borbo
fatuellus is found throughout
sub-Saharan Africa, except in desert regions. It also occurs in
south-west Arabia.
Habitats
This species can be found in almost any forested habitat in Africa, including
thickets in savannah country, and severely degraded areas within
the forest belt.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed nocturnally on various
grasses including Setaria,
Panicum, Digitaria,
Pennisetum and
Imperata ( Poaceae ).
Adult behaviour
This is a sun-loving species which
can be found basking on the lower foliage of bushes and herbs in
forest edge habitats. When basking it adopts the characteristic
Hesperiine posture, with forewings half-open, and hindwings held flat. In
hot weather the butterflies thermoregulate by closing their wings
or seeking shade.
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