Butterflies of
Africa
Common African
Ringlet
Ypthima doleta
KIRBY, 1880
Family - NYMPHALIDAE
subfamily -
SATYRINAE
Tribe - SATYRINI
Ypthima doleta,
Bobiri forest, Ghana
Introduction
The genus Ypthima comprises of 108
currently described species. 16 of these are restricted to the
Afrotropical region; one is found only in Australia and Papua
New Guinea; and the remainder are mostly found in various parts
of the Oriental and south-east Holarctic regions. Additionally
there is a single very wide-ranging species
asterope, which is found in
sub-Saharan Africa, Arabia, Turkey, Lebanon, and on the Indian
sub-continent.
The butterflies
are instantly recognisable as a group, all being marked with
fine striations on the underside, and possessing a submarginal
series of yellow-ringed black ocelli.
There are 19
species found in the Afrotropical region, of which
doleta is the one of the commonest
and most widespread, being found from Sierra Leone to Angola and
northern Tanzania.
Habitats
This species is found in grassy areas including degraded forests, where it breeds along the
edges of grassy tracks and roadsides.
Lifecycle
The larval foodplants are grasses, of which
several species are probably used.
Adult behaviour
This species breeds in small colonies of up to 100 or so
butterflies. Like other Ypthima
species it is active in overcast conditions as well as in sunny
weather.
Both sexes can commonly be seen flying among grasses or nectaring
at marigolds and other wild flowers. They usually keep their wings
erect for a few moments after settling, but if undisturbed will
gradually open them. When basking the wings are usually held
half-open, but in warm overcast conditions it is not uncommon to
find them with wings fully outspread.
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