Butterflies of
Africa
Mother of Pearl
Protogoniomorpha parhassus
DRURY, 1782
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
NYMPHALINAE
Tribe - JUNONIINI
Protogoniomorpha parhassus
© Peter
Bruce-Jones
Introduction
The 4 species which comprise the genus
Protogoniomorpha, i.e. cytora,
parhassus,
anacardii and temora were
all formerly included in the genus Salamis.
They are entirely African in distribution.
The upper
surface of the wings is greenish-white, with a mother-of-pearl
sheen. When seen in flight the butterfly is stunningly
beautiful, with flashes of pink, purple, yellow and green
reflecting back as the angle of the wings changes in relation to
the sunlight.
Protogoniomorpha
parhassus is found throughout the forested regions of sub-Saharan Africa,
from Senegal to South Africa and Madagascar.
Habitats
This species is found in lowland forest habitats, including degraded forest. It
is a sun-loving species, usually seen along logging roads and around the edges
of small clearings.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants include
Brilliantaisia, Isoglossa,
Mimulopsis, Paulowilhelmia,
Asystasia and Justicia
( Acanthaceae ).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are usually found singly, or in two's and three's.
Males perch on the lower foliage of
trees, or at the top of tall bushes,
usually with their wings held slightly apart. They swoop down to intercept
and chase other
passing butterflies, indulging in a spectacular aerial battle, with their
shimmering mother-of-pearl iridescence glinting
in the sunshine.
Both sexes go to roost in late
afternoon, in a head-downward posture, hanging beneath the leaves
of bushes. In this situation the leaf-like underside, complete
with fake "midrib" and "mould spots", provides them with excellent
camouflage.
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