Butterflies of
Africa
Common Black Sprite
Celaenorrhinus proxima
MABILLE, 1877
Family - HESPERIIDAE
subfamily -
PYRGINAE
Tribe -
Celaenorrhinus proxima,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
Introduction
There are about 130 species in the genus Celaenorrhinus,
of which 24 are found in the Neotropical region, 50 are found in
various parts of eastern Asia, and 45 are Afrotropical.
Celaenorrhinus proxima is one of the
commonest and most widespread species, being found from Guinea
to Uganda and western Tanzania.
Habitats
This species is found in rainforest, including degraded and secondary forest,
and can be found in low numbers along logging roads, in glades, and around the
edges of clearings.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplant is
Mimulopsis ( Acanthaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Both sexes can be found early in the morning, when they bask on
bushes or low herbage. They are very fast on the wing, but not
nervous in disposition, unlike their hyperactive relative
galenus ! If disturbed they
usually fly and settle on another leaf a few metres away, but
males invariably return to their original perches. I have not
observed either sex at flowers, or seen males mud-puddling.
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