Kingdom Animalia Family Nymphalidae Genus Protogoniomorpha Rank Species | Class Insecta Tribe Junoniini Phylum Arthropoda Order Butterflies and moths | |
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Scientific name Protogoniomorpha parhassus Similar Protogoniomorpha, Butterflies and moths, Salamis, Protogoniomorpha anacardii, Salamis cacta | ||
The forest mother-of-pearl or common mother-of-pearl (Protogoniomorpha parhassus) is a species of Nymphalidae butterfly found in forested areas of Africa.
Contents
Subspecies
Description
The following description is for P. p. aethiops: A large butterfly; the wingspan is 65–80 mm for males and 75–90 mm for females. The male and female are similar in colour and pattern. The base colour of the uppersurface of the wings is greenish-white with a violet sheen in the wet-season form, and pearly-white in the dry-season form. The forewing has a black-tipped, hooked apex. The wings have a few red eye-spots which are ringed with black. There are black spots near the margins of both the forewings and hindwings. The underside of the wings has a greenish-white base colour, with eye-spots corresponding to those on the uppersurface.
Eggs
This species lays tiny eggs similar to those of Junonia and Precis species.
Larvae
The larvae are similar to those of Junonia and Precis species, but larger. They feed on Asystasia (Asystasia gangetica), Brillantaisia, Isoglossa (I. woodii and I. mossambicensis ), Mimulopsis, and Paulowilhelmia species.
Pupae
The pupae are similar to those of Junonia and Precis species, but larger.
Adults
The flight period of the adults is year-round, peaking in summer and autumn. They have a "ponderous, flapping flight which can be quite fast". The males may perch on the leaves of forest trees, while the females stay closer to the ground near the larval food plants. These butterflies roost under leaves at night, and the males sometimes mud-puddle.