Platylesches robustus

Platylesches robustus
Platylesches robustus figure 7
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Platylesches
Species: P. robustus
Binomial name
Platylesches robustus
Neave, 1910[1]
Synonyms
  • Platylesches ertli Gaede, 1917
  • Platylesches villa Evans, 1937

The Robust Hopper or Large Hopper (Platylesches robustus) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in Zululand, Swaziland, Transvaal, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of moist, frost-free savanna and the transitional zone between forest and Guinea savanna.

The wingspan is 34–42 mm for males and 36–44 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to October and from March to April and occasionally also in midsummer. There are two generations per year.[2] Adults feed from flowers on trees and visit muddy patches.

The larvae probably feed on Parinari curatellifolia. They are salmon-pink with small creamy white spots and a golden brown head with darker brown stripes. The larvae built a shelter from the leaves of their host plant.[3]

Subspecies

References

  1. Platylesches, 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
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