Metisella malgacha
| Grassveld Sylph | |
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| Species: | M. malgacha
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| Binomial name | |
| Metisella malgacha (Boisduval, 1833)[1]
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The Grassveld Sylph (Metisella malgacha) is a butterfly of the Hesperiidae family. It is found in the Cape, Orange Free State, Lesotho, Transvaal, and Natal in South Africa.
The wingspan is 25–29 mm for males and 27–31 mm for females.[2]
Flight period is between August and May with several broods possible or December to January at highest elevations.[2]
The upperside wings have many gold spots on a brown background similar to the Gold Spotted Sylph (M. aegipan) that has a darker background. The spots on M. malgacha are typically smaller than M. aegipan. The underside of the wings are orange-brown. Sexes are similar.[2]
The larvae feed on Ehrharta erecta.
Subspecies
- Metisella malgacha malgacha
- Metisella malgacha orina Vári, 1976
References
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