Butterflies of
Africa
White-spotted Commodore
Precis limnoria
ROGENHOFER, 1891
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - JUNONIINI
Precis limnoria,
Lake Tana, Ethiopia
© Peter Bruce-Jones
Introduction
The genus
Precis is closely allied to Junonia and includes several
species that were formerly placed within that genus.
There are 20
currently recognised Precis species
of which 14 are found exclusively on the African mainland. A
further 2 are endemic to Madagascar. The remaining 3 are found
in south-east Asia.
Precis
limnoria is found in n.e. Tanzania, eastern Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and
s.w. Arabia.
Habitats
This is a savannah butterfly, found at altitudes between sea level and about
1500m.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants are Lamiaceae ( as
with other Precis species ).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies have a rapid flight over short distances, pausing
regularly to visit flowers. When nectaring they usually hold their
wings half open, but early or late in the day, when temperatures
are relatively cool, they will bask on low foliage with their
wings fully outspread.
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