Veined Golden Arab

Scientific Name
Colotis vesta
REICHE, 1849
Specie in
Family
Veined Golden Arab
Colotis vesta, Arba Minch, Ethiopia – Peter Bruce-Jones

Introduction

There are about 40 Colotis species, 39 of which are primarily or entirely Afrotropical in distribution.

Most Colotis have white uppersides, with prominent orange, yellow or crimson tips to the forewings, but there are a few exceptions including aurigineus, chrysonome and vesta. All three species have yellow uppersides with black markings, and a whitish patch at the base of the wings. In vesta the markings are heavier than in the other 2 species, and the pale basal patch extends much further out, reaching the black spot in the forewing discal cell.

Colotis vesta is distributed from Gambia to Ethiopia, and south to South Africa.

Habitats

This is a common savannah species, found at altitudes between about 200-1800m.

Lifecycle

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

Adult behaviour

Both sexes commonly nectar at Maerua and other flowers. When nectaring or basking, the wings are usually held half open, with the hindwings almost covered by the forewings.

Colotis vesta, Arba Minch, Ethiopia – Peter Bruce-Jones
Colotis vesta, Arba Minch, Ethiopia – Peter Bruce-Jones

More on this topic

Previous article
Next article
Butterfly of
Scientific Name
Colotis vesta
by
REICHE, 1849
Family
SubFamily
PIERINAE
Tribe
COLOTINI
SubTribe
N/A

Related Species