Butterflies of
Africa
Blue Vagrant
Nepheronia thalassina
BOISDUVAL, 1836
Family - PIERIDAE
subfamily -
PIERINAE
Tribe - PIERINI
Nepheronia thalassina,
male, Nechisar NP,
Ethiopia
©
Peter Bruce-Jones
Introduction
There are 4 species in the genus
Nepheronia, all of which are found only in the
Afrotropical region.
The upperside
of the male Nepheronia thalassina
is a very pale blue colour, which reflects sunlight so strongly
that it appears to be almost luminescent. The female is white or
very pale yellowish, and has black marginal spots on the
hindwings, in addition to the black forewing markings found on
the male. The underside of both sexes is white, and has a pearly
lustre.
Nepheronia thalassina is found from
Senegal to Ethiopia and Sudan, and south to South Africa.
Habitats
This species can be found in a wide range of habitats including
secondary forest, savannah, thorn scrub, farmland, parks and
gardens, at altitudes between sea level and about 1500m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplant is Hippocratea
( Celastraceae ).
Adult behaviour
Both sexes fly rapidly along forest
edge habitats, pausing for a moment here and there to nectar at
flowers. When feeding they usually hold the wings half open.
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