EASY GARDEN BUTTERFLIES
The African LeopardPhalanta phalantha aethiopica
The African Leopard, Phalanta phalantha aethiopica, is named for its striking appearance. It’s one of the Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies), subfamily Heliconiinae (Longwings).
Its wings are bright ochre-yellow with black spots hence the ‘Leopard’ name. The rounded forewings have a series of black lines and spots, while the hindwings are scalloped with a series of submarginal black spots. The wings are 40-50mm across.
The African Leopard is a highly active butterfly. It is frequently seen basking in the sun with its wings spread flat or slowly moving up and down (this is known as ‘pumping’). Its flight is rapid and direct, often darting from flower to flower in search of nectar. They are also fond of sand and mud wet with dissolved minerals, or nutrients from animal urine.
Distribution
The African Leopard is widespread and common across the eastern side of South Africa. It can be found in grasslands, woodlands, forest edges, and urban gardens: anywhere it can find ample sources of food and shelter. It isn’t found in Karoo or Fynbos habitats, or high cold grasslands. The African subspecies occurs over the drier parts of Africa. Other subspecies have a very wide range, occurring all across Asia and as far as Australia.
Egg
African Leopard egg
Phalanta phalantha aethiopica
The female African Leopard lays her tiny, yellow, bluntly conical eggs on young shoots or leaf edges of the host plant. They are laid singly and are about 0.7mm diameter by 0.8mm high. The egg stage lasts from 4 to 12 days.
Caterpillar
African Leopard caterpillar
Phalanta phalantha aethiopica
African Leopard caterpillars are spiny and look intimidating but they don’t sting or make you itch. They grow from less than 2mm to about 25mm over approximately a month.
Pupa/Chrysalis
African Leopard pupa
Phalanta phalantha aethiopica
The pupa is a thing of beauty, looking more like a piece of jewellery than a living insect. Its ground colour can be green, brown, or even black, but it always has shiny, red-edged metallic marks on its back and wing edges. It is about 15mm long and this stage lasts about three weeks.
Host plants
They feed on a variety of host plants, most from the Salicaceae family. These include Cape Willow Salix mucronata, the exotic Weeping Willow, Salix babylonica, the White Poplar Populus alba and Kei-apple Dovyalis afra and its relatives. Because these plants often grow near human habitation this butterfly is often seen in gardens.
Cape Willow
Salix mucronata
White Poplar
Populus alba
Weeping Willow
Salix babylonica
Kei Apple
Dovyalis afra
Plant images Ⓒ Wikipedia commons: Cape Willow Abu Shawka; White Poplar MPF; Weeping Willow FAB5669; Kei Apple Krzysztof Ziarnek Kenraiz
How to attract them
Gardeners can promote the presence of this butterfly by cultivating its preferred host plants and creating a sunny, sheltered environment with an abundance of nectar-rich flowers. Males like to have tall shrubs or a forest edge on which to perch and watch out for females.