Butterflies of
Africa
Common Leopard
Phalanta
phalantha
DRURY, 1773
Family -
NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
HELICONIINAE
Tribe - VAGRANTINI
Phalanta phalantha
Menagasha forest, Ethiopia
© Peter Bruce-Jones
Introduction
The genus Phalanta
comprises of 6 species, collectively known as the Leopards.
There are 4
species in the Afrotropical region -
madagascariensis,
which is endemic to Madagascar; philiberti, which
is endemic to the Seychelles; eurytis, which is
found across most of sub-Saharan Africa; and phalantha.
Phalanta
phalantha is the commonest and most widespread member of the genus. It is
distributed across sub-Saharan Africa from Gambia to Ethiopia, and south to
South Africa and Madagascar. It is also found in s.w. Arabia, and eastward
across tropical and subtropical Asia to China and Japan. It's range continues
southward to include the Philippines and most of the south-east Asian islands.
Habitats
This is primarily a butterfly of Acacia thorn scrub and
savannah / woodland habitats, but can also be found in clearings within
rainforest. The migratory nature of the butterfly also takes it to coastal
grasslands, city parks, gardens and many other habitats. It can be found at
altitudes from sea level to at least 1500m.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed on several genera of Flacourtiaceae including
Aberia, Dovyalis,
Flacourtia, Oncoba,
Scolopia, Trimeria and
Xylosma. Other less commonly used foodplants
include Ixora ( Rubiaceae ),
Gymnosporia, Maytenus ( Celastraceae ),
Petalostigma ( Euphorbiaceae ),
Smilax ( Smilacaceae ),
Viola ( Violaceae ), and
Salix ( Salicaceae ).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are usually seen in two's and three's,
nectaring at Tridax,
Eupatorium and other wild flowers. Males sometimes imbibe moisture from
damp sand along riverbanks, but are more strongly attracted to patches of urine,
and to dung, at which they sometimes gather in dozens.
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