Introduction
The genus Mylothris is confined to the African continent and includes 51 species, most of which are distributed across the forest belt from Cameroon to western Kenya.
Mylothris species share a number of characteristics: They have rounded wings with a black apex on the upperside forewings. On the underside, fore and hindwings of most species have a single row of prominent black marginal spots, hence the butterflies in this genus are all known as Dotted Borders.
The butterflies are sometimes confused with Belenois species but the latter are larger, and have a double row of submarginal spots.
Mylothris jaopura is found in Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria and western Cameroon.
Habitats
This species is found in forests, botanical gardens and occasionally in dense savannah.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed on parasitic Loranthaceae.
Adult behaviour
This localised butterfly is normally seen in two’s and three’s, nectaring at flowers or resting on the foliage of sapling trees along the edge of forest roads. As with other Mylothris species the flight is slow and deliberate, which in conjunction with the conspicuous appearance indicates that it is likely to be distasteful to avian predators.