Acraea axina

Acraea axina, the little acraea, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in south-west Africa, in KwaZulu-Natal, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Transvaal, Botswana, and Malawi.

Little acraea
Acraea axina in Seitz (1925)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Acraea
Species:
A. axina
Binomial name
Acraea axina
Synonyms
  • Acraea axina f. illuminata van Son, 1963

Description
For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

The wingspan is 35–40 mm for males and 36–44 mm for females. A. axina Westw. (55 e) is a small species, only measuring 30 to 50 mm., and recalls oncaea and in many respects also doubledayi; the wings above have the ground-colour reddish-yellow or grey-yellow, at the base, especially on the hind wing, blackish; fore wing at the apex and distal margin narrowly black with black veins and short black streaks on the folds in 3 to 5; marginal band of the hindwing above deep black, unspotted, 1 mm. in breadth, beneath with semicircular whitish marginal spots; wings beneath light yellowish with orange- yellow or reddish spots; beyond discal dots 4 to 6 on the forewing the ground-colour is usually somewhat lighter. Angola and Damaraland to Rhodesia and Nyassaland. [4]

Taxonomy

It is a member of the Acraea caecilia species group. See also Pierre & Bernaud, 2014.[5]

Biology

Adults are on wing year round, with a peak from September to May. There are multiple generations per year.[6]

References
  1. Woodhall, S.E.; Westrip, J.R.S. (2020). "Acraea axina". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161108A161315316. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161108A161315316.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. Westwood,J.O, 1881 Entomology in, Matabele Land and the Victoria Falls in Oates, Matabeland : 331-365, pl. E-H
  3. "Acraea Fabricius, 1807" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  4. 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.Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. Pierre & Bernau, 2014 Classification et Liste Synonymique des Taxons du Genre Acraea pdf
  6. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
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