AFRICAN BUSH TRAINING

  Learn more at https://abt-edu.com ©Estian Kruger Butterflies have a Holo-metabolic lifecycle and belong to the Order Lepidoptera. They undergo complete physical changes, i.e. insects undergo four developmetal stages, the embryo, larva, pupa, and adult. This is a meduim sized butterfly with a wingspan of about 59mm. Males are pinkish red , females are brownish red. Their wings are spotted with black and with black bases. Adults are on wing year round, with a strong peak in late summer in southern Africa. v   What is the difference between a butterfly and a moth ?   Butterflies                                                                   ...

©Lafras Taljaard The moths are easily identifiable by their markings, which feature a large orange eyespot on each hind wing and two black and white bands isolating two smaller eyespots. Males have long, feathery antennae that they use to find a mate during their brief three-to-four-day lifespan. Gonimbrasia belina  is a species of  emperor moth  which is native to the warmer parts of  southern Africa . Its large  edible   caterpillar , known as the  mopane worm , feeds primarily but not exclusively on  mopane tree  leaves. Mopane worms are an important source of  protein  for millions in the region. The species was first described by  John O. Westwood  in 1849. Like most caterpillars, the mopane worm's life cycle starts when it hatches in the summer, after which it proceeds to eat the foliage in its immediate vicinity. As the  larva  grows, it moults four times in its five larval stages, after which the mopane w...