Neptis saclava

Neptis saclava, the spotted sailer, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is native to Madagascar and to large areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

Spotted sailer
Neptis saclava saclava (above) and N. saclava marpessa (below)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Neptis
Species:	N. saclava
Binomial name
Neptis saclava Boisduval, 1833
Synonyms
Neptis marpessa Hopffer, 1855 Neptis nemetes pasteuri Snellen, 1882 Neptis saclava marpessa ab. sheppardi Stevenson, 1940

Its wingspan is 40–45 mm in males and 45–48 mm in females. Adults are on the wing year round with a peak from December to May.[1]

The larvae feed on Acalypha glabrata, Combretum bracteosum, Ricinus communis, Australina, and Pilea.[1][2]

Subspecies

Recognised subspecies:[2]

• N. s. saclava – Madagascar
• N. s. marpessa Hopffer, 1855 – small spotted sailer, native to southern Nigeria, Cameroon to Ethiopia to Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape

References

1. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
2. "Neptis Fabricius, 1807" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms