Ypthima asterope

Ypthima asterope, the African ringlet or common three-ring,[1][2] is a species of Satyrinae butterfly found in most dry areas of Africa and Asia.[1][2]

African ringlet
Dorsal view of nominate race in Turkey
Y. a. mahratta in southern India
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Ypthima
Species:
Y. asterope
Binomial name
Ypthima asterope
(Klug, 1832)[1]
Synonyms
  • Hipparchia asterope Klug, 1832
  • Ypthima mahratta
  • Ypthima hereroica
  • Ypthima asterope ab. simpliciocellata Strand, 1909
  • Ypthima asterope ab. hereroica Grünberg, 1910

The wingspan is 30–34 mm in males and 32–38 mm in females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks in summer and autumn in southern Africa. There is one generation per year.[3]

The larvae feed on grasses (Poaceae). Larvae have been reared on Ehrharta erecta.

Subspecies

The species may be divided into the following subspecies:

  • Ypthima asterope asterope (Arabia, Turkey, northern tropical Africa)
  • Ypthima asterope mahratta Moore, 1884 (India)[4][5]
  • Ypthima asterope hereroica van Son, 1955 (southern Africa, Namibia)

References
  1. Savela, Markku. "Ypthima Hübner, 1818 Rings Ringlets". Lepidoptera - Butterflies and Moths. Retrieved 2018-03-18.
  2. R.K., Varshney; Smetacek, Peter (2015). A Synoptic Catalogue of the Butterflies of India. New Delhi: Butterfly Research Centre, Bhimtal & Indinov Publishing, New Delhi. pp. 180–181. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.3966.2164. ISBN 978-81-929826-4-9.
  3. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  4. Bingham, Charles Thomas (1905). Fauna of British India. Butterflies Vol. 1. p. 62.
  5. Moore, Frederic (1893). Lepidoptera Indica. Vol. II. London: Lovell Reeve and Co. p. 211.


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