Kingdom Animalia Order Lepidoptera Species C. cloanthe Higher classification Nymphalidae | Phylum Arthropoda Family Nymphalidae Scientific name Catacroptera Rank Genus | |
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Similar Butterfly, Nymphalidae, Vanessula, Antanartia, Kallimoides | ||
Catacroptera is a monotypic genus of butterflies of the subfamily Nymphalinae in the family Nymphalidae found in Africa. The habitat consists of grassland and savanna.
The single species, the pirate (Catacroptera cloanthe), has a wingspan of 50 to 63 mm. Its dorsal colour is orange with rows of dark bands in the forewing and blue spots surrounded by darker brown in the wind wing. The underside is brown with greyish stripes. Sexes are similar. There are seasonal forms which differ slightly. The dry-season form has a dark brown underside.
Adults are on wing year-round, but from September to April in cooler areas.
The larvae feed on Justicia protracta, Barleria stuhlmanni, Ruellia cordata, Asystasia gangetica, Barleria opaca, Ruellia togoensis, Chaetacanthus setiger, Asclepias and Phaulopsis species.