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At well over 800 butterfly species in South Africa it is well worth being able to identify them.

Any recommendations as to a good field guide for butterflies?

Moira de Swardt, consider:
Field Guide To Butterflies Of South Africa
Author(s): Steve Woodhall
Publisher: Struik
ISBN: 1868727246
Publication Date: 2005

@ Yolandé Oelsen, I agree with the butterfly ID. Maybe this is the start of yet another interesting passtime for you, Yolandé!

I had a Foxy Charaxe/s..........Sucking the juices out of a freash Jack Russel turd(for lack of a better word) in the garden today Im guessing for moisture or minerals....(I can think of better ways to get these).........I've also seen the same species, gathering in large numbers to suck the moisture etc out of a dead impalas eye sockets (It had been caught in a game fence in the Waterberg Area).

Thirsty little guys these are!!

It is a common occurrence with many butterflies. They get a lot of minerals and fluids out of the dung of many animals. Have seen this on elephant, lion and buffalo dung to mention a few.

Imberbe...I have also seen this on rhino and elephant dung in the parks, different species of Butterfly though....Possible dumb question

Whould moths take over the role of dung sucking at night??? I'm guessing they would do the same as the diurnal butterflies?!

What is the best butterfly guide?

thanks,

BM

Good question! I'm not sure. I would guess that they would.

Batmad:

Field guide to the Butterflies of South Africa
Steve Woodhall
Struik
ISBN 1-86872-726-6

Are there any tips on butterfly watching?


thanks,

BM

Hi BM
Look out for Lantana and citrus trees which will attract butterflies. You could also make a jar of bait (ripe bananas, pineapple, raisins, sherry - left to ferment) and pour into a bowl placed in full sun when picnicing. Otherwise just lots of patience. Butterflies are solar powered and best time for spotting is between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in summer. Good luck.

Cleaning out my hard drive last night, I discovered a few pix of butterflies that I haven't post before. So the list grows...

Vine-leaf Vagrant, Eronia cleodora cleodora. Sexes similar. Seen year-round, depending on rain fall. Wide variety of habitats along a broad strip on the eastern parts of the country from PE to the Limpopo, but excluding the far north.

Large view

Golden Piper, Eurytela dryope angulata. Sexes similar. Seen year-round along the east from Port St Johns into Limpopo province.

Large view

Red Tip, Colotis antevippe gavisa. Sexes differ and also displays season variation in appearance. Seen year-round, depending on rain-fall; from Little Karoo along the east, including all of “Transvaal”. Worn specimens are often seen. They like to follow a set course and are usually seen on flowers.

Large view

African Veined White, Belenois creona severina. Often with migrating swarms of Brown-veined Whites. Sexes differ. Seen year-round, depending on rain-fall from Little Karoo along the east, including all of Transvaal.

Large view

Squinting Bush Brown, Bicyclus anynana anynana. Sexes similar. Seen year-round in a band along the east from Durban to Mussina. Depends on camouflage in forests and well-wooded areas.

Large view

Twin Dotted Border, Mylothris rueppellii haemus. The dots on the edges of the wings are less prominent in dry-season specimens. Sexes dimorphic. Seen year-round, depending on rain-fall from Little Karoo along the east, including all of Transvaal.

Large view

Hi

Great photos! There are just two identification errors. The red tip is actually a smoky orange tip (Colotis euippe omphale) and the last photo is a common dotted border female (Mylothris agathina). Are you sending your photos in to the SABCA virtual museum (http://sabca.adu.org.za)?

Hello, BushSnake. Welcome to the forum from me!

No. I am not... I had a look today at the submission process and I will do in future. See, some of my pix were taken a while ago and there is no way that I can furnish the required info after all that time... :blames memory:

I can see where the mistake re the Tip came in... that specimen was in remarkably worn state, making the call verrrry difficult. Looking at your call I must agree the Tip is a smoky orange.

Regarding the Dotted Border... I don't see the error. My example is identical to the example 1C on pg 345 of Butterflies of SA (S Woodhall). Please explain a bit more why you think the ID-call should be Common DB.

The only dotted border with a completely yellow underside is the female common dotted border. The males have a white area as shown in figure 2C on P345. The specimen of the twin dotted border is a very worn one and possibly a bit misleading, but the underside of both male and female twin dotted border (Mylothris rueppellii) are white.

To get better idea of what they look like, go to the SABCA website, virtual museum, click "enter virtual museum" and select a species (either common dotted border or twin dotted border, or Genus Mylothris). This will show you the records that have been submitted and identified by the panel.

Wow! I am impressed and suitably educated (not nearly enough, though!) Pity about the example (and description) in Woodhall not carrying across that message clearly. Thanks, BushSnake, I fully understand you point now.

BTW, I hope you will keep an eye on this thread as we intend significant expansion soon.

Please help, what butterfly is this? I photographed it in the Van Stadens Forest near Port Elizabeth and need it for our Friends Of Van Stadens newsletter.
http://public.fotki.com/rgoossens/20080 ... rfly3.html

Many thanks