Butterflies of
Africa
Infuriating
Pathfinder
Catuna crithea
DRURY, 1773
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
LIMENITIDINAE
Tribe - ADOLIADINI
Catuna crithea,
Wli Falls, Ghana / Togo border
Introduction
There are 5
Catuna species, all Afrotropical in distribution.
Catuna crithea is by far the commonest, and is
found throughout the forested areas of sub-Saharan Africa, from Guinea to
western Kenya and Zambia, but does not reach South Africa or the east coast of
the continent.
Habitats
This is a rainforest species, and tends to
be most abundant along paths and tracks where dappled sunlight filters through
the tree foliage to reach the forest floor.
Lifecycle
The
larval foodplants include Manilkara,
Mimusops, Malacantha,
Aningueria, Gambeya,
Pachystela, Engerophytum,
Vincentella and Synsepalum
- all members of the Sapotaceae.
Adult behaviour
The
Infuriating Pathfinder is one of the commonest and familiar species in the
forests of Africa, yet it is probably the most frustrating of all
butterflies to photograph. The adults never fly more than a few
centimetres above ground level, and constantly patrol back and
forth along paths, pausing only for a moment here and there.
Catuna are fast on the wing, and extremely alert. They
taunt the photographer by repeatedly landing just out of
camera-reach. Even the most careful approach causes them to take
flight, only to land again a short distance away.
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