Acraea horta

Acraea horta or the garden acraea is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Garden acraea
Caterpillars on K. africana
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Acraea
Species:
A. horta
Binomial name
Acraea horta
(Linnaeus, 1764)
Synonyms
  • Papilio horta Linnaeus, 1764
  • Acraea horta ab. conjuncta Blachier, 1912

It has a typical wingspan of 45–50 mm for males and 49–53 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round, but are more common from October to April.[1]

The larvae feed on Kiggelaria africana and Passiflora (including Passiflora coerulea, Passiflora manicata and Passiflora mollisima) and Tacsonia species.

  • Pupa and larva
  • Pupal attachment, by crochets on posterior prolegs, to silken mat spun onto a masonry wall
  • Eggs on underside of Kiggelaria africana leaf
  • Pupating on glass, which renders visible the spun silken mat that it grips onto
  • Seen from beneath, pupating on glass, showing details of its crochets which grip the silk mat

References
  1. 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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