Butterflies of
Africa
Common Brown Playboy
Deudorix antalus
HOPFFER, 1855
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily -
THECLINAE
Tribe - DEUDORIGINI
Deudorix antalus,
Mount Gemi, Likpe Hills, Ghana / Togo border
Introduction
The genus
Deudorix comprises of 61 species distributed
variously across Africa, south-east Asia and Australia. There are 29 species in
Africa, including 6 on Madagascar, 3 of which are endemic to the island.
The butterflies are known
popularly as Playboys due to the habit of territorial males of cavorting in
aerial combat around the top of small bushes.
Deudorix
antalus is one of the most widespread species in the genus, being found
throughout the sub-Saharan part of the continent including Madagascar, the
Comores, Mauritius and Reunion.
Habitats
This is primarily a savannah species, but can be found in disturbed forest in
clearings and along the forest roads. It can also be seen in parks, arboreta,
and village gardens.
Lifecycle
The larva is polyphagous - recorded
foodplants include Schotia,
Syzygium, Prunus,
Sutherlandia,
Cassia,
Phaseolus, Ximenia, Crotalaria,
Dolichos, Nymania,
Combretum, Quiscalis,
Acacia, Albizia,
Baphia, Bauhinia,
Burkea, Caesalpinia,
Cajanus, Canavalia,
Pisum, Macadamia,
Cardiospermum,
Olea,
Paphia and
Caspicum.
Adult behaviour
Males sit conspicuously on the topmost leaves of bushes, which
they defend against other passing males. Both sexes migrate daily
to hilltops where these are available, for courtship and
copulation.
Both sexes are attracted to
Tridax and other flowers for nectar.
Males also mud-puddle to obtain minerals which they pass to
females during copulation.
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