Biology:Dira jansei

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Short description: Species of butterfly


Janse's widow
Scientific classification edit
Missing taxonomy template (fix): Dira
Species:
Binomial name
Template:Taxonomy/DiraDira jansei
(Swierstra, 1911)
Synonyms
  • Leptoneura jansei Swierstra, 1911[1]

Dira jansei, or Janse's widow, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found on wooded hillsides in the savanna/grassland ecotone in Limpopo's Strydpoortberg and Drakensberg and from the Makapans Cave to Mariepskop.

Description

The wingspan is 48–55 mm for males and 52–58 mm for females. Adults are on wing from late February to mid-March. There is one generation per year.[2]

Habitat and behavior

It is observed residing near steep-grass covered slopes, with loose rocks, a terrain which is hazardous.[3]

The larvae feed on various Poaceae species, including Ehrharta erecta and Pennisetum clandestinum.

References

  1. "Dira Hübner, [1819]" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7. 
  3. Woodhall, Steve (2001). "Looking for Dira". Metamorphosis (The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa) 12 (2): 50–52. ISSN ((1018-6490)). https://metamorphosis.org.za/?p=articles&s=Details&i=799. 

Wikidata ☰ Q5280155 entry