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.
