The wingspan is 35–40 mm for males and 40–50 mm for females. A. rahira Bdv. (55 g). Both wings above light grey-yellow (male) or light grey (female); the veins in the distal part edged with black and at the distal margin widened into long triangular or rounded spots; basal and discal dots free and distinct; discal dots 1 b to 5 on the hindwing placed in an almost straight line and discal dots 6 and 7 forming nearly a right angle with them. The under surface is similar to the upper, only somewhat lighter and with reddish streaks in 1 b, 1 c and the cell between the basal and discal dots; distally to the discal dots runs in la to 5 a whitish transverse band about 2 mm. in breadth, which is basally bounded by a dark line; this line terminates at vein 5 or 6 and is more or less indicated on the upper surface also; it evidently corresponds to the proximal boundary of the marginal band; the latter scarcely differs from the ground-colour or has some reddish streaks on the interneural folds; at the distal margin the ground-colour is even lighter yellow, without, however, forming distinct marginal spots, the proximal boundary of the spots being entirely absent or only very indistinct. - Larva blackish with the thoracic legs yellow, a yellow lateral line and a white dorsal line; the spines are short, yellow, placed in yellow spots; head also yellow; lives on Erigeron. Pupa whitish with black markings. This very distinct species is fond of damp and marshy places and occurs in the whole of South Africa to Angola and Rhodesia. [2]
Subspeciesedit
Acraea rahira rahira (southern Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique to Malawi, southern Tanzania, Zambia, southern Zaire (Shaba), Angola, western Kenya, Uganda)
It is a member of the Acraea rahiraspecies group - but see also Pierre & Bernaud, 2014 [4]
Referencesedit
^Boisduval, J.B.A. 1833. Mémoire sur les Lépidoptères de Madagascar, Bourbon et Maurice. Nouvelles Annales du Muséum d’Histoire Naturelle. Paris 2: 149-270.
^Aurivillius, [P.O.]C. 1908-1924. In: Seitz, A. Die Grosschmetterlinge der Erde Band 13: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Grosschmetterlinge, Die afrikanischen Tagfalter, 1925, 613 Seiten, 80 Tafeln (The Macrolepidoptera of the World 13).Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN978-1-86872-724-7.
^ Pierre & Bernau, 2014 Classification et Liste Synonymique des Taxons du Genre Acraea pdf
External linksedit
Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 55 g
acraea, rahira, marsh, acraea, butterfly, family, nymphalidae, found, southern, africa, south, africa, found, from, western, cape, along, coast, eastern, cape, kwazulu, natal, then, inland, mpumalanga, gauteng, limpopo, north, west, scientific, classificationd. Acraea rahira the marsh acraea is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae It is found in southern Africa In South Africa it is found from the Western Cape along the coast to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal then inland to Mpumalanga Gauteng Limpopo and North West Acraea rahiraScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaClass InsectaOrder LepidopteraFamily NymphalidaeGenus AcraeaSpecies A rahiraBinomial nameAcraea rahiraBoisduval 1833 1 SynonymsHyalites rahira Boisduval 1833 Telchinia rahira Boisduval 1833 Acraea rahira uasingishuensis Stoneham 1943 Acraea Actinote rahira Acraea rahira f melanoradiata Stoneham 1943 Acraea rahira f crippsi Stoneham 1943 Contents 1 Description 2 Subspecies 3 Biology 4 Taxonomy 5 References 6 External linksDescription editFor a key to the terms used see Glossary of entomology terms The wingspan is 35 40 mm for males and 40 50 mm for females A rahira Bdv 55 g Both wings above light grey yellow male or light grey female the veins in the distal part edged with black and at the distal margin widened into long triangular or rounded spots basal and discal dots free and distinct discal dots 1 b to 5 on the hindwing placed in an almost straight line and discal dots 6 and 7 forming nearly a right angle with them The under surface is similar to the upper only somewhat lighter and with reddish streaks in 1 b 1 c and the cell between the basal and discal dots distally to the discal dots runs in la to 5 a whitish transverse band about 2 mm in breadth which is basally bounded by a dark line this line terminates at vein 5 or 6 and is more or less indicated on the upper surface also it evidently corresponds to the proximal boundary of the marginal band the latter scarcely differs from the ground colour or has some reddish streaks on the interneural folds at the distal margin the ground colour is even lighter yellow without however forming distinct marginal spots the proximal boundary of the spots being entirely absent or only very indistinct Larva blackish with the thoracic legs yellow a yellow lateral line and a white dorsal line the spines are short yellow placed in yellow spots head also yellow lives on Erigeron Pupa whitish with black markings This very distinct species is fond of damp and marshy places and occurs in the whole of South Africa to Angola and Rhodesia 2 Subspecies editAcraea rahira rahira southern Africa Zimbabwe Mozambique to Malawi southern Tanzania Zambia southern Zaire Shaba Angola western Kenya Uganda Acraea rahira mufindi Kielland 1990 Tanzania Biology editAdults are on wing year round in warmer areas with a peak from September to April In cooler areas it is only found in the hot summer months 3 The larvae feed on Persicaria attenuata africana and Conyza canadensis Taxonomy editIt is a member of the Acraea rahira species group but see also Pierre amp Bernaud 2014 4 References edit Boisduval J B A 1833 Memoire sur les Lepidopteres de Madagascar Bourbon et Maurice Nouvelles Annales du Museum d Histoire Naturelle Paris 2 149 270 Aurivillius P O C 1908 1924 In Seitz A Die Grosschmetterlinge der Erde Band 13 Abt 2 Die exotischen Grosschmetterlinge Die afrikanischen Tagfalter 1925 613 Seiten 80 Tafeln The Macrolepidoptera of the World 13 Alfred Kernen Verlag Stuttgart nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Woodhall Steve 2005 Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa Cape Town South Africa Struik ISBN 978 1 86872 724 7 Pierre amp Bernau 2014 Classification et Liste Synonymique des Taxons du Genre Acraea pdfExternal links editDie Gross Schmetterlinge der Erde 13 Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter Plate XIII 55 g Images representing Acraea rahira at Bold Images representing Acraea rahira mufindi at Bold nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Acraea rahira nbsp This Heliconiinae article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Acraea rahira amp oldid 1066312893, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
