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
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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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