Butterflies of
Africa
Pied Piper
Eurytela hiarbas
ROTHSCHILD & JORDAN, 1903
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
BIBLIDINAE
Tribe - EURYTELINI
Eurytela hiarbas,
Wondo Genet, 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 hiarbas is found from
Sierra Leone to Ethiopia and Somalia, and south to Angola,
Malawi and Mozambique. It also occurs in s.w. Arabia.
Habitats
This species is found in forest edge habitats, in open areas
within dry forest, and in land that has recently been opened up
for agriculture.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include Tragia,
Ricinus and
Dalechampia ( Euphorbiaceae ).
Adult behaviour
These active
butterflies tend to flit back and forth from the treetops to the
herb layer, basking here and there for a few moments, with their
wings held half open. They are attracted to decomposing fruit on
the forest floor, and to sap runs on tree trunks.
|
