Introduction
The genus Osmodes comprises of 15 species, distributed variously across tropical and subtropical regions of Africa. All have blackish-brown uppersides with extensive bright orange-yellow markings. The undersides are yellow, mottled with blackish in most species, and are marked with conspicuous white spots which vary in configuration according to species.
Osmodes thora is found from Sierra Leone to southern Sudan, and south to Angola, Congo, Uganda and western Tanzania.
Habitats
This species is found along logging roads and forest edge habitats. It is probably more abundant in secondary forest than in untouched rainforest.
Lifecycle
The larvae feed on arrowroots (Marantaceae).
Adult behaviour
The butterflies are usually seen in one’s and two’s, perching or basking on bushes, or on the lower leaves of trees on sunny mornings. Later in the day they can sometimes be observed higher up on the foliage of trees in forest edge habitats.