Butterflies of
Africa
Golden
Piper
Eurytela dryope
AURIVILLIUS, 1898
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EURYTELINI
Eurytela dryope,
Lake Langano, Ethiopia
©
Peter Bruce-Jones
Introduction
The genus
Eurytela comprises of 4 species.
Eurytela
hiarbas and alinda are
confined to mainland Africa. E. narinda
is endemic to Madagascar.
Eurytela dryope is the most
widespread and common member of the genus, being found across
most of sub-Saharan Africa, Madagascar, and southern Arabia.
Habitats
This species is found in savannah / woodland mosaics, and in
open areas within dry forest, at altitudes between sea level and
about 1500m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Tragia,
Ricinus ( Euphorbiaceae ),
Grewia ( Tiliaceae ),
Lecaniodiscus, Paullinia (
Sapindaceae ) and Holarrhena (
Apocynaceae ).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies
have a rapid, erratic flight, and probably spend much of their
time in the treetops, but often descend to bask with wigs almost
fully open, on the foliage of bushes.
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