For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Pirate Butterfly (Catacroptera cloanthe) Nymphalidae

Update: I have now taken a picture of the underside of the wings an am adding it.....

Pirates belong to the Nymphalidae family. They are of medium size and the underwing is dull brown in color.
They are one of the earliest butterflies to be found in spring and the males are strongly territorial.
The blue eye-spots are very conspicuous and they can be found throughout the west cost and northern areas of South Africa.