Amauris niavius
Encyclopedia
Amauris niavius, known as The Friar, is a butterfly
of the Nymphalidae
family. It is found in the forests of tropical Africa
.
The wingspan
is 80–85 mm for males and 78-82 for females. Adults are on wing year round (with peaks in late summer and autumn).
The larvae feed on Cynanchum
(including Cynanchum medium, Cynanchum nigrum and Cynanchum vincetoxicum), Gymnema
(including Gymnema sylvestre
), Marsdenia
, Secamone
, Tylophora
and Ipomoea
. Larvae of ssp. dominicanus feed on Gymnema sylvestre
.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Nymphalidae
Nymphalidae
The Nymphalidae is a family of about 5,000 species of butterflies which are distributed throughout most of the world. These are usually medium sized to large butterflies. Most species have a reduced pair of forelegs and many hold their colourful wings flat when resting. They are also called...
family. It is found in the forests of tropical Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 80–85 mm for males and 78-82 for females. Adults are on wing year round (with peaks in late summer and autumn).
The larvae feed on Cynanchum
Cynanchum
Cynanchum is a genus of about 300 species including some swallowworts, belonging to the family Apocynaceae. The taxon name comes from Greek kynos and anchein , referring to the toxicity of these plants. Hence the common name for several species is dog-strangling vine...
(including Cynanchum medium, Cynanchum nigrum and Cynanchum vincetoxicum), Gymnema
Gymnema
Gymnema is a genus in the family Asclepiadaceae containing 119 species.-Selected species:* Gymnema acuminatum Wall.* Gymnema affine Decne.* Gymnema albidum Decne....
(including Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre is a herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India where it has been used as a natural treatment for diabetes for nearly two millennia.-Description:...
), Marsdenia
Marsdenia
Marsdenia is a genus of plant in family Apocynaceae. It is named in honor of the plant collector and Secretary of the Admiralty, William Marsden.Species include:* Marsdenia australis* Marsdenia brachyloba* Marsdenia cavaleriei...
, Secamone
Secamone
Secamone is a genus of plant in family Asclepiadaceae.Species include:* Secamone alpini , Schult.* Secamone cuneifolia, Bruyns* Secamone racemosa, Klack* Secamone socotrana, Balf.f....
, Tylophora
Tylophora
Tylophora is a genus of climbing plant or vine. It consists of about 60 species from tropical and subtropical Asia, Africa, and Australia, most of which are perennial lianas. The name is derived from the Ancient Greek tylos/τυλος "knot", and phoros/φορος "bearing". The genus was originally erected...
and Ipomoea
Ipomoea
Ipomoea is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Convolvulaceae, with over 500 species. Most of these are called "morning glories", but this can refer to related genera also. Those formerly separated in Calonyction are called "moonflowers"...
. Larvae of ssp. dominicanus feed on Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre
Gymnema sylvestre is a herb native to the tropical forests of southern and central India where it has been used as a natural treatment for diabetes for nearly two millennia.-Description:...
.
Subspecies
- Amauris niavius niavius (from western Kenya to Zaire, Angola, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Fernando Póo (Macías Nguema Island))
- Amauris niavius dominicanus Trimen, 1879 (Natal, Mozambique, from Rhodesia to Malawi, eastern Tanzania and Kenya east of the Rift Valley)
- Amauris niavius aethiops Rothschild & Jordan, 1903 (Ethiopia, northern Uganda, southern Sudan)