Fresna nyassae

Fresna nyassae
Fresna nyassae figure 8
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Hesperiidae
Genus:	Fresna
Species:	F. nyassae
Binomial name
Fresna nyassae (Hewitson, 1878)[1]
Synonyms
Hesperia nyassae Hewitson, 1878 Parnara nyassae f. ennuari Riley, 1921 Hesperia roncilgonis Plötz, 1882 Fresna nyassae f. plata Evans, 1937 Fresna nyassae f. joppa Evans, 1937

The Variegated Acraea Skipper or Variegated Acraea Hopper (Fresna nyassae) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found from Ghana and Kenya to South Africa.

The wingspan is 34–38 mm for males and 39–42 mm for females.^[2] The underside is pale purple or yellowish, with black spots. Adults are on wing year round, but are commonest in spring and summer.

The larvae feed on Albizia species, Julbernardia globiflora and Paullinia pinnata. First instar larvae are bright scarlet with a black head. Later instars are whitish with a brown head. The final instar is smooth and white with a broken black dorsal stripe and a reddish brown head with symmetrical orange markings.^[3]

References

1. Fresna, Site of Markku Savela
2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
3. Afrotropical Butterflies: Hesperiidae - Subfamily Hesperiinae