Biology:Apallaga mokeezi

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Short description: Species of butterfly

Apallaga mokeezi
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Apallaga
Species:
A. mokeezi
Binomial name
Apallaga mokeezi
(Wallengren, 1857)[1]
Synonyms
  • Pterygospidea mokeezi Wallengren, 1857
  • Apallaga separata Strand, 1911
  • Hesperia amaponda Trimen, 1862
  • Celaenorrhinus mokeezi (Wallengren, 1857)

Apallaga mokeezi, also known as the large sprite, large flat or Christmas forester, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa (from Transkei to KwaZulu-Natal and Transvaal) and Mozambique. The habitat consists coastal forests and montane forests.[2]

The wingspan is 40–48 mm for males and 45–51 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round in warmer areas with peaks in late summer and autumn.[3]

The larvae feed on Isoglossa woodii (buckweed).

Subspecies

  • Apallaga mokeezi mokeezi - South Africa: from eastern Cape to the southern KwaZulu-Natal coast and midlands
  • Apallaga mokeezi separata (Strand, 1911) - southern Mozambique, Eswatini, South Africa: Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal

References

  1. Celaenorrhinus at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. "Afrotropical Butterflies: Hesperiidae - Subfamily Pyrginae". http://atbutterflies.com/downloads/hesperiidae_pyrginae.doc. 
  3. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7. 

Wikidata ☰ Q5057468 entry