Mylothris agathina

Mylothris agathina, the eastern dotted border or common dotted border, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa, particularly East Africa and southern Africa. In South Africa its range has spread westwards around the coast in the late 20th century, and it now occurs north of Cape Town to somewhat beyond Saldanha.[2]

Batch of eggs oviposited on a leaf

Eastern dotted border
male and female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Mylothris
Species:
M. agathina
Binomial name
Mylothris agathina
(Cramer, [1779])[1]
Synonyms
  • Papilio agathina Cramer, [1779]
  • Mylothris richlora Suffert, 1904
  • Cathaemia xantholeuca Hübner, 1819 in Hübner, [1816-[1826]
  • Mylothris chloris f. leucoma Talbot, 1944
  • Mylothris agathina ab. carminea Dufrane, 1947
  • Mylothris agathina ab. radiata Dufrane, 1947
  • Mylothris agathina ab. dawanti Dufrane, 1947
  • Mylothris agathina f. maureli Dufrane, 1947
  • Mylothris chloris ab. macrosticta Storace, 1953
  • Mylothris intermedia Aurivillius, 1910
  • Mylothris chloris f. agathinoides Talbot, 1944
  • Mylothris agathina f. bicolor Berger, 1981
  • Mylothris agathina f. unicolor Berger, 1981

The wingspan is 50–60 millimetres (2.0–2.4 in) for males and 52–65 mm (2.0–2.6 in) for females. The slow-flying adults are on wing year-round, with peaks in October and from late February to April.[3] The gregarious larvae feed on Tapinanthus oleifolius, Tapinanthus rubromarginatus, Erianthemum dregei, Teighemia quinquenervia, Ximenia caffra, Osyris lanceolata, and Osyris compressa (formerly Colpoon compressum).[4] The pupae resemble bird droppings.[2]

Subspecies

References
  1. Mylothris at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Alan Weaving; Mike Picker; Griffiths, Charles Llewellyn (2003). Field Guide to Insects of South Africa. New Holland Publishers, Ltd. ISBN 1-86872-713-0.
  3. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  4. Manning, John (2008). Field Guide to Fynbos. Cape Town: Struik Publishers. ISBN 978-1-77007-265-7.
  5. "Afrotropical Butterflies: File D – Pierini - Tribe Aporiina". Archived from the original on 2014-08-19. Retrieved 2012-04-27.


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