| Red-banded widow | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Dingana |
| Species: | D. alticola
|
| Binomial name | |
| Dingana alticola Henning & Henning, 1996[1]
| |
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.