Dira clytus

Dira clytus
Dira clytus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Tribe: Satyrini
Genus: Dira
Species: D. clytus
Binomial name
Dira clytus
(Linnaeus, 1764)
Synonyms
  • Papilio clytus Linnaeus, 1764
  • Leptoneura clytus (Linnaeus, 1764)

The Cape Autumn Widow (Dira clytus) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in South Africa[1].

The wingspan is 45-55 mm. Adults of ssp. clytus are on wing from late February to April and of ssp. eurina from late February to late March. There is one generation per year[2]

The larvae feed on various Poaceae species, including Ehrharta erecta, Pennisetum clandestinum, Stipa dregeana, Panicum deustrum, Stenotaphrum glabrum and Stenotaphrum secundatum.

Subspecies

  • Dira clytus clytus (south-western Cape)
  • Dira clytus eurina Quickelberge, 1978 (southern Cape)

References

  1. ^ Dira, Site of Markku Savela
  2. ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town:Struik Publishers, 2005.
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