Pseudacraea boisduvali
Encyclopedia
Boisduval’s False Acraea (Pseudacraea boisduvali) is a butterfly
of the Nymphalidae
family. It is found in most of Africa
, except the north-western quarter.
The wingspan
is 65-70 mm for males and 75-88 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, with a peak from January to May.
The larvae feed on Chrysophyllum
, Mimusops
(including Mimusops obovata and Mimusops zeheri), Bequaertiodendron, Manilkara discolor, Englerophytum magalismontanum
and Englerophytum natalense.
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 most of 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...
, except the north-western quarter.
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 65-70 mm for males and 75-88 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, with a peak from January to May.
The larvae feed on Chrysophyllum
Chrysophyllum
Chrysophyllum is a genus of about 70-80 species of tropical trees, growing rapidly to 10–20 m or more in height. The genus is native to tropical regions throughout the world, with the greatest number of species in northern South America. One species, C...
, Mimusops
Mimusops
Mimusops is a genus of plant in family Sapotaceae.Species include:* Mimusops acutifolia, Mildbr.* Mimusops angel, Chiov.* Mimusops commersonii* Mimusops caffra* Mimusops elengi...
(including Mimusops obovata and Mimusops zeheri), Bequaertiodendron, Manilkara discolor, Englerophytum magalismontanum
Englerophytum magalismontanum
Englerophytum magalismontanum T.D.Penn., is an evergreen tree usually growing in rocky places, with a wide distribution from northern KwaZulu-Natal along the east coast and into the interior, northwards into tropical Africa....
and Englerophytum natalense.
Subspecies
- Pseudacraea boisduvali boisduvali (Sierra Leone to Zaire, Angola, Uganda, Sudan, western Kenya)
- Pseudacraea boisduvali trimenii Butler, 1874 (Port St Johns to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania, eastern Kenya)
- Pseudacraea boisduvali sayonis Ungemach, 1932 (southern Ethiopia)
- Pseudacraea boisduvali marsabitensis Jackson & Howarth, 1957 (MarsabitMarsabitMarsabit is a town in northern Kenya, located 170 km east of the center of the East African Rift at 37°58' E, 2°19' N . It is located in the Eastern Province and is almost surrounded by the Marsabit National Park and Reserve...
, Kulal, Mount Nyiro) - Pseudacraea boisduvali pemba Kielland, 1990