Metisella malgacha

Metisella malgacha
Grassveld Sylph
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Metisella
Species: M. malgacha
Binomial name
Metisella malgacha
(Boisduval, 1833)[1]
Synonyms
  • Steropes malgacha Boisduval, 1833

The Grassveld Sylph (Metisella malgacha) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the Cape, Orange Free State, Lesotho, Transvaal, and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.

The wingspan is 25–29 mm for males and 27–31 mm for females.[2]

Flight period is between August and May with several broods possible or December to January at highest elevations.[2]

The upperside wings have many gold spots on a brown background similar to the Gold Spotted Sylph (M. aegipan) that has a darker background. The spots on M. malgacha are typically smaller than M. aegipan. The underside of the wings are orange-brown. Sexes are similar.[2]

The larvae feed on Ehrharta erecta.

Subspecies

  • Metisella malgacha malgacha
  • Metisella malgacha orina Vári, 1976

References

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