Phalanta phalanta aethiopica

The strikingly beautiful and very active African Leopard butterfly inhabits savanna, woodland, forest edges, parks and gardens and is found over much of South Africa, excluding most of the Eastern, Western and Northern Cape Provinces. It is also known as the Common Leopard and is widely distributed over Africa, Australia, southern Asia and the Indian subcontinent. Eggs are laid singly on a wide range of larval food plants, including exotic poplars and willows. Adults have a wingspan of between 4 and 5.5cm and are on the wing throughout the year.

African Leopard (Phalanta-butterfly)

African Leopard (Phalanta-butterfly)

Beautiful African Leopard (Phalanta-butterfly)

African Leopard (Phalanta-butterfly)

African Leopard

African Leopard

African Leopard

African Leopard

African Leopard

African Leopard Butterfly

African Leopard Butterfly

African Leopard butterfly (photo by Joubert)

African Leopard butterfly (photo by Joubert)

African Leopard Butterfly