Acraea horta
As its name implies, the Garden Acraea is a commonly seen butterfly of South African gardens, though its natural habitat preference is for woodland and forested areas in which their larval food plants of choice (mainly Wild Peach and Passion Flowers) occurs. Seen throughout the year, though more commonly in spring and summer, they fly low and slow, relying on their foul taste to deter predators. Adults have a wingspan of around 5cm, with females being slightly larger than males. Garden Acraeas are found along the southern Cape coast, through the Eastern Cape, Free State, Kwazulu-Natal and Gauteng to the North-West, Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces.
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea butterfly catching a piggy-back ride with Joubert
Garden Acraea on exotic lantana
Garden Acraea on exotic lantana
Garden Acraea on exotic lantana
Garden Acraea on exotic lantana
Garden Acraea on exotic lantana
Garden Acraea on exotic lantana
Garden Acraea on exotic pompom weed
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea caterpillar
Garden Acraea
Garden Acraea
Lovely photos of a lovely butterfly. I have not seen many where we are, but this week I saw one acraea-looking caterpillar eating new foliage on the Wild Peach tree, so here’s hoping for a butterfly!
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Thank you, Carol! The Acraea’s are such a diverse family, but they are all beautiful! We’ll be holding thumbs with you.
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Thanks 🙂
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So dit is hoe mens daardie outjie noem. Dankie!
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Groot plesier!
The Acraea-family is quite big, and at first glance many look very similar. But in our experience the Garden Acraea is by far the most common in the places we frequent.
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Die natuur is darem wonderlik
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O defnitief, Tina!
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I’m wondering… have you tasted one?
Stunning gallery… once again, you make me envious! 😉
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Thanks, AJ. No, I haven’t tasted them and I don’t think I want to – if a spider doesn’t want to eat one neither do I!
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Pragtige fotos. Ek het nie besef die punte van die vlerke is so deursigtig nie.
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Baie dankie, Ineke!
Daar is nie veel skoenlappers met deursigtige vlerke nie – maak hierdie outjies en n paar familielede van hulle nogal uniek.
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Baie uniek.
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You are a pro with regards to photographing butterflies.
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Thanks very much, Anne. I must admit I really like trying to get photographs of them – about one in a dozen is worth showing here, but still great fun!
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I love to see the beautiful butterflies you have there!
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And we love sharing them! Thanks very much, Montucky.
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Ah, another butterfly. Wonderful! 🙂
janet
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Glad to know you like our Garden Acraea so, thanks Janet!
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The wingtips are translucent?! How pretty.
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Yep, not something you see on very many butterflies but it definitely is beautiful!
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awesome pics
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Thanks!
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