Zophopetes dysmephila, the palm-tree nightfighter, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Mozambique, in South Africa from Port Elizabeth in the Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, and in Kenya. Their habitat consists of moist savanna and forests.[2]

Palm-tree nightfighter
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Zophopetes
Species:
Z. dysmephila
Binomial name
Zophopetes dysmephila
(Trimen, 1868)[1]
Synonyms
  • Pamphila dysmephila Trimen, 1868
  • Hesperia schulzi Plötz, 1882
  • Hesperia mucorea Karsch, 1892

Their wingspan is 40–49 mm for males and 45–52 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round with a peak from November to May in southern Africa.[3]

The larvae feed on Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Phoenix reclinata, Phoenix dactylifera, Phoenix canariensis, Raphia, Borassus and Cocos species.

References

edit
  1. ^ Zophopetes at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ Afrotropical Butterflies: Hesperiidae - Subfamily Hesperiinae
  3. ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.