EASY GARDEN BUTTERFLIES
Garden AcraeaAcraea horta
The Garden Acraea is one of the Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies), subfamily Heliconiinae (Acraeas and Longwings).
The males are red with black spots and transparent forewing tips. Females are yellow-brown or red, and if red it’s a duller, brick-red shade than the males. The wingspan is 45-55 mm.
They are slow flying, gregarious little butterflies that glide through the air with wings open, only occasionally flapping them. They seldom move far away from their host plant.
Distribution
The Garden Acraea is a widespread butterfly that is found in the wild in the cooler forested areas on the southern and eastern Escarpments. It has a wider range than that because its main host plant, Wild Peach Kiggelaria africana, is a popular garden subject all over the country even on the Highveld and in warmer areas like KwaZulu-Natal and the Lowveld.
It isn’t found outside South Africa apart from as an occasional migrant in Zimbabwe.
Eggs
Garden Acraea eggs
Acraea horta
The female Garden Acraea lays her pale yellow eggs in neat clusters on leaves of the host plant. They are about 0.75mm diameter by 0.75mm high. They are dome-shaped, tapering at the top, and have about 24 longitudinal ribs connected by about 25 cross-ribs, creating indentations. The eggs turn reddish as they mature before turning black just prior to hatching. The egg stage lasts about ten days.
Young Caterpillars
Garden Acraea larvae
Acraea horta
When Garden Acraea caterpillars first hatch from the eggs they are gregarious. They move across the surface of the leaves, first ‘skeletonizing’ them then eating them down to the veins. They are yellow-buff with rows of short, branched, black spines. Although spiny they don’t sting or make you itch. They grow from 2mm to 30-40mm over one to two months depending on weather conditions. There are normally four moults but when growth is slow there can be five.
Fully-grown Larva
Garden Acraea larva
Acraea horta
Fully-grown Dark Blue Pansy caterpillars are solitary and spread out on the host tree. Their colour is brown and black, with streaks of yellow and pink on the side and pale green underneath. There are six rows of branched black spines with a bluish base, one per segment in each row.
When fully fed the caterpillars leave the host tree foliage and wander off to nearby walls, rocks, and tree trunks where they prepare to pupate.
Pupa/Chrysalis
Garden Acraea pupae
Acraea horta
Final instar Garden Acraea caterpillars often enter diapause in winter and only pupate when the conditions favour it. This shows a group of them on a garden wall, three of which have already pupated. Like all Nymphalidae pupae it is attached to its substrate by its tail. They are 18-20 mm long, dull yellow with black and orange markings. The adult usually emerges after 2-3 weeks.
Host plant
The normal host plant of the Garden Acraea is the Wild Peach, Kiggelaria africana (Achariaceae) although there are reports of them using Passifloraceae. This is a popular garden subject all over the country even on the Highveld and in warmer areas like KwaZulu-Natal and the Lowveld.
The females lay their mats of eggs on the leaves and the little caterpillars will soon be everywhere. They may even defoliate your tree! If this happens don’t worry. The tree benefits from the pruning. Remember that plants are meant to be eaten by something. This plant’s real purpose is to be eaten by caterpillars that become hundreds of little red butterflies to populate your garden!
Wild Peach tree
Kiggelaria africana
Wild Peach foliage
Kiggelaria africana
Wild Peach flowers
Kiggelaria africana
Female Garden Acraea
on Kiggelaria africana
How to attract them
Gardeners can promote the presence of this butterfly by planting Wild Peach trees. Usually all you must do is plant a sapling and eventually the butterflies will arrive.
It’s important to also have nectar plants in your garden, so the adults have something to subsist on whilst mating and laying eggs.