Butterflies of Botswana

Botswana Post  has issued the butterfly stamp set on the first of November 2007. The issue  comprises of 14  postage stamps that depicts respectively species of Scarlet tip, Dwarf blue, Mimmosa Saphire, Bushveld Orange-tip,African Monarch,Common Black-eye,Brown Playboy,Sapphire, Apricot Playboy, Blue Pansy,Black-striped Hairtail,Natal Barred Blue, and Foxy Charaxes.
 

Scarlet Tip

The Crimson Tip or Scarlet Tip (Colotis danae) is a small butterfly of the Family Pieridae .Wing expanse of 45–50 mm in males and 48–52 mm in females.The butterfly is found in open to wooded savannah areas of Eastern Southern Africa from King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape through to the Limpopo province in wherever its foodplant, Cabada termitaria, Cabada natalensis and Maerua angolensis are found. The insect flies throughout the year with a dry and wet season form being recognized. It flies fairly fast, feeding frequently and is best seen earlier in the morning when it is cooler and they sit warming themselves up.

Dwarf Blue

The Dwarf Blue (Oraidium barberae) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family which prefers savanna or grassed areas. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. In South Africa it is found from the West Cape, north to Namaqualand, the North Cape and east to the East Cape and the Orange Free State as well as northern KwaZulu-Natal. It is the smallest butterfly in Africa!

The wingspan is 10-15 mm for males and 12-18 mm for females. Adults are on wing continuously depending on the rainfall, with peaks usually occurring from September to November and from February to April.The larvae probably feed on Exomis axyrioides. 

 

Mimosa Sapphire

The Mimosa Sapphire (Iolaus mimosae) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in southern Africa.

The wingspan is 26-31 mm for males and 30-32 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to March with a peak from October to November. There are one or more generations per year.The larvae feed on Moquinella rubra, Plicosepalus kalachariensis and Tapinanthus dicrous.

 

Bushveld Orange-tip

The Bushveld Orange Tip   or Colotis pallene is a butterfly of the Pieridae family. It is found in the southern Africa.

The wingspan is 28–35 mm. The adults fly year-round, peaking in late summer and autumn.The larva feed on Capparis species.

African Monarch

Danaus chrysippus, known as the Plain Tiger or African Monarch, is a common butterfly which is widespread in Asia and Africa. It belongs to the Danainae ("Milkweed butterflies") subfamily of the brush-footed butterfly family, Nymphalidae. It is a medium-sized, non-edible butterfly, which is mimicked by multiple species.

Common Black-eye

The Common Black-eye (Leptomyrina gorgias) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in southern Africa.The wingspan is 18.5–29 mm for males and 25–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks in November and March.The larvae feed on Kalanchoe, Crassula and Cotyledon species.

 

Brown Playboy

The Brown Playboy (Deudorix antalus) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Africa (including Madagascar) and south-west Arabia.

The wingspan is 22-34 mm for males and 22-40 mm for females. Adults are on year round with peaks from September to October and from March to May. The larvae feed on the fruit of a wide range of plants.

 

Sapphire

The Southern Sapphire (Iolaus silas) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, from the Name Karoo in the East Cape, then along the eastern littoral from Addo Elephant to Somerset East and Bedford, along the coastal Savannah and Lowland Forest into KwaZulu-Natal.

The wingspan is 32–37 mm for males and 34–41 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas and from September to January in the southern part of its range.The larvae feed on Moquinella rubra, Erianthemum dregei and Loranthus usuiensis.
 

Large Blue Emperor

The Large Blue Emperor,  or  Charaxes bohemani is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in southern Africa.The wingspan is 65–75 mm in males and 78–95 mm in females. Their flight period is year-round.

 

Larvae of Charaxes bohemani feed on Afzelia quanzensis, Brachystegia spiciformis, Julbernardia globiflora, Lonchocarpus capassa, Dalbergia nitidula, Scotia brachypetala, and Xeroderris stuhlmanni.

 

Apricot Playboy

The Apricot Playboy (Deudorix dinochares) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, eastern Africa and south-west Arabia. In South Africa it is found from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Swaziland, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province, the North West Province and Gauteng.

The wingspan is 24-30 mm for males and 26-32 mm for females. Adults are on the wing year round with peaks from September to October and from March to May.

The larvae feed on the fruit of a wide range of plants such as; Combretum species , Burkea species , Syzygium species , Gardenia species ,  Acacia species ,  Prunus and Ximenia species , etc

Blue Pansy

Blue Pansy or Junonia orithya is a nymphalid butterfly with many subspecies occurring from Africa, through southern and south-eastern Asia, and in Australia.  In southern Africa it is known as the Eyed Pansy as the name Blue Pansy refers to Junonia oenone.

The adults occur in open areas, often sitting on bare ground. This species has a stiff flap and glide style of flight and maintains a territory; driving away other butterflies that may enter it.

Black-striped Hairtail

The Black-striped Hairtail (Anthene amarah) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in tropical Africa and Arabia (up to Aqaba).

The wingspan is 21-26 mm for males and 23-29 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, with a peak in summer.The larvae feed on Acacia species, including Acacia karroo, Acacia sieberana and Acacia gerrardii.

Natal Barred Blue

The Natal Bar or Natal Barred Blue (Cigaritis natalensis) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, from the East Cape along the coast to KwaZulu-Natal, Swaziland, the Orange Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the Limpopo Province, the North West Province and part of the North Cape. It is also present in Botswana.

The wingspan is 25-32.5 mm for males and 26.5-34 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks from September to October and from March to May.The larvae feed on Canthium inerme, Clerodendron glabrum and Ximenia caffra.

Foxy Charaxes

The Two-tailed Pasha or Foxy Emperor (Charaxes jasius) is a butterfly which occurs in the Mediterranean region and Africa.The wingspan is 65–75 mm in males and 75–90 mm in females. Flight period is year-round.The host plant of the caterpillars is the strawberry tree Arbutus unedo.