Jump to content

Fresna nyassae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Chris the speller (talk | contribs) at 14:21, 24 November 2016 (top: replaced: reddish brown → reddish-brown, typo(s) fixed: year round → year-round using AWB). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Fresna nyassae
Fresna nyassae figure 8
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
F. nyassae
Binomial name
Fresna nyassae
(Hewitson, 1878)[1]
Synonyms
  • Hesperia nyassae Hewitson, 1878
  • Parnara nyassae f. ennuari Riley, 1921
  • Hesperia roncilgonis Plötz, 1882
  • Fresna nyassae f. plata Evans, 1937
  • Fresna nyassae f. joppa Evans, 1937

Fresna nyassae, the variegated Acraea skipper or variegated Acraea hopper, is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Ghana and Kenya to South Africa.

The wingspan is 34–38 mm for males and 39–42 mm for females.[2] The underside is pale purple or yellowish, with black spots. Adults are on wing year-round, but are commonest in spring and summer.

The larvae feed on Albizia species, Julbernardia globiflora and Paullinia pinnata. First instar larvae are bright scarlet with a black head. Later instars are whitish with a brown head. The final instar is smooth and white with a broken black dorsal stripe and a reddish-brown head with symmetrical orange markings.[3]

References

  1. ^ Fresna, Site of Markku Savela
  2. ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
  3. ^ Afrotropical Butterflies: Hesperiidae - Subfamily Hesperiinae