Butterflies of
Africa
Common Evening Brown
Melanitis leda
LINNAEUS, 1758
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - MELANITINI
Melanitis
leda, dry
season form, Bobiri
forest, Ghana
Introduction
The genus
Melanitis comprises of 12 species, commonly known
as Evening
Browns due to their preference
for flying after dark.
Melanitis
leda is the most widespread member of the genus, being found across most
of Africa including Madagascar, Arabia, the Indian subcontinent, south-east Asia
and northern Australia.
This species exhibits pronounce
seasonal dimorphism. The wet season morph is strongly variegated and has
prominent ocelli. The dry season morph has reduced ocelli, and the ground colour
varies from grey to light brown.
Habitats
Melanitis leda is found in degraded forest, plantations,
orchards, parks and
gardens at altitudes between sea level and about 800m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include the grasses
Apluda, Orzya,
Saccarum, Paspalum,
Stenotaphrum, Imperata,
Panicum and Sorghum.
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are normally found singly, when disturbed from
their resting places in the forest undergrowth. They fly mainly in
the early part of the evening and often enter houses,
attracted by artificial lighting.
Melanitis
leda, dry
season form, Bobiri
forest, Ghana
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