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Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
Images contributed by South
African photographer Chris Annear
Also known as the Garden Inspector butterfly.
Garden Commodore butterflies are indigenous to sub - Saharan Africa.
Their flight period is year-round with two main broods from September to March and April to August.
Their preferred terrain is the savannah, although they are now being found in deforested areas and gardens. Adult butterflies feed on flower nectar.
Precis archesia are medium sized butterflies with wingspans up to 6 cm. The ventral side ground color is black with white, pink, green, or blue spots and bands. The dorsal side may also have a brownish ground color. The wings often have eyespots. The outer wing margins are wavy and toothed or scalloped. Several species occur in multiple color forms (morphs). They tend to have distinct rainy season and dry season forms, that of the Gaudy Commodore being the most extreme. Transitional forms are also known.
It is generally believed that the temperature during the stage of pupal development determines the color form of the adults.
Diet: larvae feed on Lamiaceae.
Diet: adults get their nourishment from flower nectar.
Wingspan: 4.5 – 5 cm / 1.7 - 1.95" for males and 5 –6 cm / 1.95 - 2.35" for females.
Family: Nymphalidae
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
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