Sevenia boisduvali
Encyclopedia
Sevenia boisduvali is a butterfly in the Nymphalidae
family, and commonly known as Boisduval’s Tree Nymph. There are four subspecies
; all native to Africa
.
The wingspan of Boisduval’s Tree Nymph is 40–45 mm. The upper surface of the wings of the male are uniform dark brown, with small dark spots near the fringe of the hind-wings. The female has an overall lighter brown colour on the upper surface, and orange-brown markings near the tips of the fore-wings. The dark spots near the fringe of the hind-wings are more pronounced in females. The undersurface of the hind-wings of both sexes are variegated grey and brown, and have an arc of seven dark spots encircled firstly by a greyish ring, and then an orange-brown ring. The undersurface of the fore-wing is orange-brown with a row of four black spots near the tip. The female fore-wing also has two dark brown bands.
are Sclerocroton integerrimus
(Sapium integerrimum) and the Jumping-seed Tree (Sclerocroton ellipticus). In Kenya, the larva have been recorded on Excoecaria
, Phyllanthus
, Macaranga
, Kigelia
and Sterculia
. The larvae are gregarious and at first only eat the upper layer of the leaves, working from the tip to the base, and leaving a pale green dead leaf behind. As they grow older, the larvae begin to eat the entire leaf, starting at the leaf margin. Sometimes the larvae defoliate individual trees.
The full grown larvae attach their rear ends to a leaf or branch with a small patch of silk and hang with their heads down. After about a day or so, they shed their skin to reveal a pupa.
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, and commonly known as Boisduval’s Tree Nymph. There are four subspecies
Subspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
; all native to 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...
.
Description
The following is a description for Sevenia boisduvali boisduvali:The wingspan of Boisduval’s Tree Nymph is 40–45 mm. The upper surface of the wings of the male are uniform dark brown, with small dark spots near the fringe of the hind-wings. The female has an overall lighter brown colour on the upper surface, and orange-brown markings near the tips of the fore-wings. The dark spots near the fringe of the hind-wings are more pronounced in females. The undersurface of the hind-wings of both sexes are variegated grey and brown, and have an arc of seven dark spots encircled firstly by a greyish ring, and then an orange-brown ring. The undersurface of the fore-wing is orange-brown with a row of four black spots near the tip. The female fore-wing also has two dark brown bands.
Distribution and habitat
Boisduval's Tree Nymph is found in the warmer, forested areas of Africa. The four subspecies are found in different regions:- Sevenia boisduvali boisduvali favours coastal forestsKwaZulu-Natal Coastal Lowland ForestKwaZulu-Natal Coastal Lowland Forest is a subtropical forest type that was once found almost continuously along the low-lying coastal areas of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa...
, but may also be found in temperate forests. This subspecies is found from Cape TownCape TownCape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, along the east coast of South Africa, through SwazilandSwazilandSwaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
and MozambiqueMozambiqueMozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, to eastern ZimbabweZimbabweZimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
. They are most common in the low-altitude (coastal) areas of KwaZulu-NatalKwaZulu-NatalKwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
and in eastern MpumalangaMpumalangaMpumalanga , is a province of South Africa. The name means east or literally "the place where the sun rises" in Swazi, Xhosa, Ndebele and Zulu. Mpumalanga lies in eastern South Africa, north of KwaZulu-Natal and bordering Swaziland and Mozambique. It constitutes 6.5% of South Africa's land area...
, South Africa.
- S. b. omissa (Rothschild, 1918) is found from Sierra LeoneSierra LeoneSierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
to the Democratic Republic of Congo, UgandaUgandaUganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
, and western KenyaKenyaKenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
- S. b. kaffana (Rothschild & Jordan) is found in EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
.
- S. b. insularis (Joicey & Talbot) is found on São ToméSão Tomé-Transport:São Tomé is served by São Tomé International Airport with regular flights to Europe and other African Countries.-Climate:São Tomé features a tropical wet and dry climate with a relatively lengthy wet season and a short dry season. The wet season runs from October through May while the...
.
Eggs
The female lays a group of eggs on the undersurface of a leaf of the larval food plant. The eggs are yellowish at first, but change to a brown colour as the larvae develop within.Larvae
The larval food plants in Southern AfricaSouthern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
are Sclerocroton integerrimus
Sclerocroton integerrimus
Sclerocroton integerrimus, the Duiker Berry, is a tree in the Euphorbiaceae family, from Southern Africa.-Taxonomy:This species was originally named as two species; Sclerocroton integerrimus Hochst. and S. reticulatus Hochst. . When Sclerocroton integerrimus was united for the first time, Baillon...
(Sapium integerrimum) and the Jumping-seed Tree (Sclerocroton ellipticus). In Kenya, the larva have been recorded on Excoecaria
Excoecaria
Excoecaria is a plant genus of the family Euphorbiaceae, comprising about 40 species. The genus is native to the Old World Tropics.The milky sap of Excoecaria agallocha, also known as Thillai, milky mangrove, blind-your-eye mangrove and river poison tree, is poisonous. Mangroves of this plant...
, Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus
Phyllanthus is the largest genus in the flowering plant family Phyllanthaceae. Estimates of the number species in this genus vary widely, from 750 to 1200. Phyllanthus has a remarkable diversity of growth forms including annual and perennial herbs, shrubs, climbers, floating aquatics, and...
, Macaranga
Macaranga
Macaranga is a large genus of Old World tropical trees of the family Euphorbiaceae and the only genus in the subtribe Macaranginae. Native to Africa, Australasia, Asia and the South Pacific, the genus comprises over 300 different species. These plants are noted for being recolonizers...
, Kigelia
Kigelia
Kigelia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Bignoniaceae. The genus comprises only one species, Kigelia africana, which occurs throughout tropical Africa from Eritrea and Chad south to northern South Africa, and west to Senegal and Namibia.-Etymology:The genus name comes from the...
and Sterculia
Sterculia
Sterculia is a genus of flowering plants in the mallow family, Malvaceae. It was previously placed in the now obsolete Sterculiaceae. Members of the genus are colloquially known as tropical chestnuts...
. The larvae are gregarious and at first only eat the upper layer of the leaves, working from the tip to the base, and leaving a pale green dead leaf behind. As they grow older, the larvae begin to eat the entire leaf, starting at the leaf margin. Sometimes the larvae defoliate individual trees.
The full grown larvae attach their rear ends to a leaf or branch with a small patch of silk and hang with their heads down. After about a day or so, they shed their skin to reveal a pupa.