Coast Purple tip

Scientific Name
Colotis hetaera
GERSTACKER, 1871
Specie in
Family
Coast Purple tip
Colotis hetaera, Nechisar NP, Ethiopia – Peter Bruce-Jones

Introduction

The genus Colotis comprises of 40 species, 39 of which are primarily or entirely Afrotropical in distribution. The majority of species have pure white uppersides, with prominent orange, yellow or crimson tips to the forewings. The undersides of most are pale whitish or buff, marked with sooty blackish submarginal spots, and a band of smaller post-median spots.

Colotis hetaera is found in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia.

Habitats

This is a savannah species, but can occasionally be found in large clearings in the drier forests.

Lifecycle

The larval foodplants include Cadaba, Boscia, Capparis, Ritchiea and Maerua ( Capparaceae ).

Adult behaviour

The butterflies behave like typical Colotis – they are very active, and only tend to settle early or late in the day when temperatures are low. When basking or nectaring, the wings are usually held in the half open position as depicted in the photograph at the top of this page.

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Butterfly of
Scientific Name
Colotis hetaera
by
GERSTACKER, 1871
Family
SubFamily
PIERINAE
Tribe
COLOTINI
SubTribe
N/A

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