Coeliades forestan

Coeliades forestan
Coeliades forestan
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Coeliades
Species: C. forestan
Binomial name
Coeliades forestan
(Stoll, [1782])[1]
Synonyms
  • Papilio forestan Stoll, [1782]
  • Thymele arbogastes Guenee, 1863
  • Coeliades arbogastes

The Striped Policeman (Coeliades forestan) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Transkei to Zimbabwe and to Botswana. It is also present on Madagascar.

The wingspan is 45-55 mm for males and 55-64 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas with peaks September to April[2].

The larvae feed on a wide range of plants, including Parinari curatellifolia, Lonchocarpus capassa, Combretum bracteosum, Combretum apiculatum, Solanum auriculatum, Solanum mauritianum, Millettia sutherlandii, Sphedamnocarpus rhamni, Sphedamnocarpus pruriens and Robinia pseudacacia.

Subspecies

  • Coeliades forestan forestan
  • Coeliades forestan arbogastes (Guenee, 1863) (Madagascar)

References

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