Amauris echeria
Encyclopedia
The Chief is a butterfly
of the Nymphalidae
family. It is found in southern Africa
.
The wingspan
is 55–65 mm for males and 63-70 for females. Adults are on wing year round (with peaks in summer and autumn).
The larvae feed on Tylophora anomala, Tylophora stolzii, Cynanchum chirindense, Gymnema
(including Gymnema sylvestre
), Marsdenia
(including Marsdenia angolensis and Marsdenia racemosa) and Secamone
(including Secamone africana and Secamone parviflora)..
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called...
family. It is found in southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 55–65 mm for males and 63-70 for females. Adults are on wing year round (with peaks in summer and autumn).
The larvae feed on Tylophora anomala, Tylophora stolzii, Cynanchum chirindense, Gymnema
Gymnema
Gymnema is a genus in the family Asclepiadaceae containing 119 species.-Selected species:* Gymnema acuminatum Wall.* Gymnema affine Decne.* Gymnema albidum Decne....
(including Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre is a herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India where it has been used as a natural treatment for diabetes for nearly two millennia.-Description:...
), Marsdenia
Marsdenia
Marsdenia is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae. It is named in honor of the plant collector and Secretary of the Admiralty, William Marsden.Species include:* Marsdenia australis* Marsdenia brachyloba* Marsdenia cavaleriei...
(including Marsdenia angolensis and Marsdenia racemosa) and Secamone
Secamone
Secamone is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Secamone alpini , Schult.* Secamone cuneifolia, Bruyns* Secamone racemosa, Klack* Secamone socotrana, Balf.f....
(including Secamone africana and Secamone parviflora)..
Subspecies
- Amauris echeria echeria (Cape to Natal, Zululand, Transvaal)
- Amauris echeria jacksoni Sharpe, 1892 (Kenya west of the Rift Valley)
- Amauris echeria kikuyu Talbot, 1940 (eastern Kenya (Katamayu to Meru, Nyambeni))
- Amauris echeria chyuluensis van Someren, 1939 (south-eastern Kenya (Chyulu, Sagala, Emali, Teita))
- Amauris echeria contracta Talbot, 1940 (western Kenya, Kitale)
- Amauris echeria abessinica Schmidt, 1921 (Eritrea, northern Ethiopia)
- Amauris echeria katangae Neave, 1910 (southern Zaire (southern Shaba), Zambia)
- Amauris echeria fernandina Schultze, 1914 (Fernando Póo (Macías Nguema Island))
- Amauris echeria lobengula (Sharpe, 1890) (Rhodesia, southern Mozambique, southern Malawi (Mount Mlanje))
- Amauris echeria meruensis Talbot, 1940 (northern Tanzania (Arusha, Moshi, Nogorongoro))
- Amauris echeria mongallensis Carpenter, 1928 (southern Sudan, northern Uganda)
- Amauris echeria mpala Talbot, 1940 (highlands of Zaire)
- Amauris echeria occidentalis Schmidt, 1921 (Cameroon)
- Amauris echeria septentrionis Poulton, 1924 (northern Kenya (Marsabit, Nyiro, Kulal))
- Amauris echeria serica Talbot, 1940 (southern Tanzania, northern Malawi)
- Amauris echeria steckeri Kheil, 1890 (southern Ethiopia, western Ethiopia, southern Sudan)
- Amauris echeria terrena Talbot, 1940 (western Uganda, eastern Zaire, north-western Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi)
- Amauris echeria whytei Butler, 1894 (southern Malawi (Zomba Plateau))