Acraea horta or the garden acraea is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

A. horta L. (53 e, f) is one of the longest known and commonest Acraeids of the Cape, but it is also native to Pondoland, Natal, Zululand, Transvaal and Zimbabwe. It has a typical wingspan of 45–50 mm for males and 49–53 mm for females. The male is similar to that of neobule, but differs in having the black dots of the fore wing absent or only represented by a dot in the cell and another in 1b, the marginal spots of the hind wing small, elongate and incompletely separated from the ground-colour and the hindwing beneath red at the inner margin and the marginal band. In the female the forewing is almost entirely hyaline and the hindwing above light yellow to grey-yellow, beneath whitish with larger marginal spots, bounded by distinct lunules. The larva is brown-yellow with black transverse lines and yellow 7 lateral and dorsal lines, while the head and spines are black. The larva lives on Kiggelaria africana and various Passiflora species.

- female ab. conjuncta Blachier is distinguished by having the discal dots of the hindwing changed into long, broad black stripes.

Description

Adults are on wing year-round, but are more common from October to April.
 The larvae feed on Kiggelaria africana and Passiflora (including Passiflora coerulea, Passiflora manicata and Passiflora mollisima) and Tacsonia species.

Biology

It is a member of the Acraea terpsicore species group   -   but see also Pierre & Bernaud, 2014

Taxonomy

harmful

Acraea horta are considered tree pests because their larvae feed on the leaves of various tree species, causing damage to the foliage and potentially impacting the overall health and growth of the trees.

tree pest

Acraea horta can be considered garden pests because their larvae feed on the leaves of many garden plants, potentially causing damage and reducing the aesthetic appeal of the garden.

garden pest

Acraea horta can be considered crop pests because their larvae feed on the leaves of certain crop plants, leading to reduced crop yield and quality.

crop pest

Acraea horta are considered pests because their larvae feed on the leaves of various trees, garden plants, and crop plants, causing damage and potentially reducing the health, aesthetic appeal, and yield of these plants.

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How long does a garden acraea live?

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