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Wednesday, 25 April 2018

22-4-2018 OKAVANGO DELTA, BOTSWANA - ZEBRA WHITE BUTTERFLY (Pinacopteryx eriphia ssp eriphia)


Pinacopteryx eriphia ssp. eriphia, also known as the Zebra White, is a subspecies of butterfly found in Africa, specifically in South Africa, Rhodesia, Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, and southern Tanzania, according to the iNaturalist page for this subspecies. It is part of the Pieridae family, commonly known as whites, yellows, and sulphurs. The Zebra White is characterized by its black and white striped wings, resembling a zebra pattern. 
 
Classification: Pinacopteryx eriphia is the only species in the genus Pinacopteryx. The eriphia part refers to the species name, and ssp. eriphia indicates the specific subspecies being discussed. 
Distribution: This subspecies is found in southern Africa, with specific locations including:
South Africa 
Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) 
Botswana 
Mozambique 
Malawi 
Southern Tanzania 
Appearance: The Zebra White is known for its striking black and white striped pattern on its wings. 
Size: The wingspan ranges from 40-55 mm in males and 42-47 mm in females. 
Flight Period: This butterfly is known to fly year-round. 
Larval Food Plants: The larvae of Pinacopteryx eriphia feed on plants like Maerua cafra, Boscia species, Capparis oleoides, and Maerua triphylla.