Butterflies of
Africa
Western Dotted
Border
Mylothris poppea
CRAMER, 1777
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe - PIERINI
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Mylothris poppea, Wli Falls, Ghana / Togo border |
Introduction
The
genus
Mylothris
is confined to the African continent and includes 51 species, most of which are
distributed across the forest belt from Cameroon to western Kenya.
Mylothris
species share a number of characteristics : They have rounded wings, with a
black apex on the upperside forewings. On the underside, fore and hindwings
have a single row of prominent black marginal spots, hence the butterflies in
this genus are known as Dotted Borders.
The butterflies are
sometimes confused with
Belenois
species such as
B. theuszi,
but the latter is larger, and has a double row of submarginal spots.
Mylothris
poppea is distributed from Guinea to Togo. An almost identical species
rhodope is found in the same part of Africa, and
also occurs south to Angola, Zambia and western Uganda.
Habitats
This species is found along logging roads and other semi-open areas of
rainforest, and also occurs in lower numbers in riparian forest and thickets.
Lifecycle
The caterpillars feed on
Loranthus
( Loranthaceae ).
Adult behaviour
Both sexes are attracted to
herbaceous flowers and flowering bushes,
at which they nectar with the wings held half open or fluttering.
Males are also attracted to mineralised moisture around the edges
of puddles on forest tracks, and can be found singly or in small
groups, aggregating with Appias, Graphium and
Eurema species.
The flight is
slow and deliberate, and in conjunction with the conspicuous
appearance is indicative of the fact ( supported by experiment )
that the butterflies are distasteful to avian predators. It is
likely that the toxins within their bodies are derived from the
larval foodplants.
Mylothris poppea, Bobiri forest, Ghana
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