Neptis saclava

Neptis saclava, the spotted sailer, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is native to Madagascar and to large areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

Spotted sailer
Neptis saclava saclava (above)
and N. saclava marpessa (below)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Nymphalidae
Genus:
Neptis
Species:
N. saclava
Binomial name
Neptis saclava
Boisduval, 1833
Synonyms
  • Neptis marpessa Hopffer, 1855
  • Neptis nemetes pasteuri Snellen, 1882
  • Neptis saclava marpessa ab. sheppardi Stevenson, 1940

Its wingspan is 40–45 mm in males and 45–48 mm in females. Adults are on the wing year round with a peak from December to May.[1]

The larvae feed on Acalypha glabrata, Combretum bracteosum, Ricinus communis, Australina, and Pilea.[1][2]

Subspecies

Recognised subspecies:[2]

  • N. s. saclava – Madagascar
  • N. s. marpessa Hopffer, 1855 – small spotted sailer, native to southern Nigeria, Cameroon to Ethiopia to Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape

References
  1. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  2. "Neptis Fabricius, 1807" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms


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