Cymothoe alcimeda

Cymothoe alcimeda
Cymothoe alcimeda
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Cymothoe
Species: C. alcimeda
Binomial name
Cymothoe alcimeda
(Godart, [1824])[1]
Synonyms
  • Nymphalis alcimeda Godart, [1824]
  • Pallene eupithes Doubleday, [1848]

The Battling Glider (Cymothoe alcimeda) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The wingspan is 40-50 mm for males and 45-55 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, but mainly in summer from October onwards. Peaks occur in November and from February to April.[2]

The larvae feed on Kiggelaria africana.

Subspecies

  • Cymothoe alcimeda alcimeda (West Cape to to Knysna)
  • Cymothoe alcimeda trimeni Aurivillius, 1912 (east Cape along Drakensberg escarpment to KwaZulu-Natal midlands)
  • Cymothoe alcimeda clarki Stevenson, 1940 (Amatola range of East Cape)
  • Cymothoe alcimeda rhodesiae Stevenson, 1934 (eastern Zimbabwe (Vumba Mountains))
  • Cymothoe alcimeda marieps Rydon, 1994 (south of Olifants River from Mariepskop to Barberton in Mpumalanga)
  • Cymothoe alcimeda transvaalica Rydon, 1994 (Limpopo Province escarpment)

References

  1. ^ Cymothoe, Site of Markku Savela
  2. ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
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