Johan van RensburgDistinguished Virtual Ranger
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2006 3:33 pm
Posts: 1945
Location: St Inkbank
This Mocker Swallowtail Papilio dardanus cenea form hippocoonides was identified... thanks to boffin BushSnake! I would never have found this ID on my own!
BushSnake says that Mocker Swallowtail females come in various colours and this specific one mimics Amauris ochlea and Amauris niavius, but especially the latter (English name: friar)... and with the frairs is where I went looking and got stuck! Fortunately there are sufficient differences to have alerted me to the fact that I was on the wrong track!
Large view
The Mocker Swallowtail is common and wide-spread, found along the coast and adjacent lowland forests from Knysna to riverine and montane forests in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It is found year-round in the northern parts, but is absent in the south in winter.
BushSnake says that Mocker Swallowtail females come in various colours and this specific one mimics Amauris ochlea and Amauris niavius, but especially the latter (English name: friar)... and with the frairs is where I went looking and got stuck! Fortunately there are sufficient differences to have alerted me to the fact that I was on the wrong track!
Large view
The Mocker Swallowtail is common and wide-spread, found along the coast and adjacent lowland forests from Knysna to riverine and montane forests in Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It is found year-round in the northern parts, but is absent in the south in winter.