Paralethe

Paralethe is a monotypic butterfly genus in the family Nymphalidae. Its one species Paralethe dendrophilus, the bush beauty or forest pride is found in South Africa.[1]

Paralethe
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Satyrinae
Tribe: Melanitini (?)
Genus: Paralethe
van Son, 1955
Species:
P. dendrophilus
Binomial name
Paralethe dendrophilus
(Trimen, 1862)
Synonyms
  • Satyrus dendrophilus Trimen, 1862
  • Paralethe dendrophilus albina f. alticola van Son, 1955
  • Debis indosa Trimen, 1879
  • Lethe dendrophilus var. albomaculatus Staudinger, 1887
  • Meneris dendrophilus junodi van Son, 1935

The wingspan is 45–60 mm for males and 48–70 mm for females. Adults are on wing from late December to May. There is one generation per year.[2]

The larvae feed on various Poaceae species, including Ehrharta erecta and Panicum deustrum.

Subspecies
  • Paralethe dendrophilus dendrophilus (eastern Cape)
  • Paralethe dendrophilus albina van Son, 1955 (eastern Cape (Pondoland), Natal)
  • Paralethe dendrophilus indosa (Trimen, 1879) (coast of KwaZulu-Natal and Zululand)
  • Paralethe dendrophilus junodi (van Son, 1935) (Transvaal)

References
  1. Paralethe at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.


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