Red-banded widow | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Nymphalidae |
Genus: | Dingana |
Species: | D. alticola
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Binomial name | |
Dingana alticola Henning & Henning, 1996[1]
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Dingana alticola, the red-banded widow, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is only known from high altitude grassland in the Steenkampsberg area in the Mpumalanga province.
Description
[edit]The wingspan is 57–64 mm for males and 56–61 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to November (with a peak in October). There is one generation per year.[2]
Habitat and behavior
[edit]Similar to D. angusta, these butterflies are associated with Lydenburg Montane Grassland (Gm 18). The species is found at 2100 metres altitude on a rocky ridge along Verlorenvallei dirt road.[3]
The larvae feed on various Poaceae species.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ Dingana at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
- ^ Williams, M. C. (2009). "Two specials in two weekends- rediscovering Lepidochryops lotana and Dingana fraterna" (PDF). Metamorphosis. 20 (1). The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 11–14.