Catopsilia florella
The African Migrant is one of the most widespread butterflies occurring in South Africa and can be found in every corner of the country in an extensive variety of habitats, reaching their highest densities in savanna areas. Adults are on the wing throughout the year. This species is well known for its migrating behaviour which reaches a peak in the late summer months, heading in their numbers in a north-easterly direction at a steady pace, stopping only occasionally to feed or lay eggs. Their larvae subsist on a variety of plants from the genera Cassia and Senna. Adults have a wingspan of 6cm.
African Migrant (female form florella)
African Migrant (female form florella)
African Migrant (Butterfly)
African Migrant (Butterfly)
African Migrant (Butterfly)
African Migrant (Butterfly)
African Migrant (Butterfly)
African Migrant (female form florella)
African Migrant (female form florella)
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant
African Migrant butterfly
Brown-veined White and African Migrant butterflies congregating at a mud puddle
DeWetsWild 
Lovely photos Dries. Interested to hear that butterfly identification can also find you scratching your head 🙂
All the credit needs to go to Mr Steve Woodhall and his excellent guide book. Any errors still made after referencing it are entirely mine! 😀
I have his pocket guide, and even that is incredibly helpful. I really should get the full guide …
You won’t be sorry that you did, Carol. I have the e-book version of the full guide on my laptop and the pocket guide in my knapsack. Quick and easy to get to at least the right family out in the veld and then check every little feature from my photos against the full guide back at camp or home.
Oh that is a good idea to get the e-book version. I will be looking into that. Thanks.
Both the male and female are very pretty.
Agreed, thanks Sylvia!
I find the delicate colour of the males especially attractive.
Through the various forms and colour phases identifying the males from the females in this species can be tricky – some of these pictures had me scratching my head as the colour looked “male” but it was laying eggs! That’s where a good guidebook distinguishes itself from the less good…
I have worried that so many sweet little creatures are not going to survive if we can’t control the Monsanto groups. Some bees are returning, but then there is the Murder Wasp.
We really have to be careful with our constant meddling in the natural order, shouldn’t we Beth? A point will come where the balance is tipped just too far and everything comes crashing down.
I love butterflies. The Monarch is declining in the north and south America.
That is such a pity, Miriam!
I know, Dries. I planted some milkweed seeds in April. They’re doing well.
I hope you’ll soon be visited by droves of the beautiful butterflies!
I hope so. There’s something, like a caterpillar eating and growing on the Zinnias seedlings. I’ll see if it a butterfly.
Holding thumbs!
Ons het hom n “koolwitjie”genoem volgens Hollandse gebruik. Hul het meestal op kool uitgebroei? Miskien nogal waar!
Dit is baie interessant, Ineke – ek het gou bietjie gaan opkyk en die regte Hollandse “Koolwitjie” is eintlik n ander spesie maar dis maklik om te sien hoekom die ou Hollanders hier aangehou het om die naam te gebruik en aan volgende geslagte oor te dra:
https://www.vlinderstichting.nl/vlinders/overzicht-vlinders/details-vlinder/groot-koolwitje
Aha dis te oulik. Dis maar omdat my ouers natuurlik gewoond aan die naam was en hul baie soos dies in SA lyk. Dankie vir die skakel.
Ek dink dit is wonderlik dat jy nog aanhou om dieselfde naam te gebruik! Mense kyk my soms maar skeef aan oor ek praat van n “draadloos” i.p.v n radio, maar dis maar omdat ek so by my ouers geleer het.
Nou praat jy. Noudat ek my verlede neerskryf is daar baie interessant woorde waarvan my seun gladnie weet nie. Lag so hier in my mou met tye vir hom as hy kliek wat die woord beteken. Hy sal dan bv vir sy vrou sê ooo dit kom van daardie woord af! Draadloos is n goeie woord vir wat dit eintlik is- sonder drade!
🙂