en Dira swanepoeli

Swanepoel's widow
	Dira swanepoli
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Dira
Species:	D. swanepoeli
Binomial name
	Dira swanepoeli; (van Son, 1939)
Synonyms
	Leptoneura swanepoeli van Son, 1939;

Dira swanepoeli, or Swanepoel's widow, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in the southern slopes of the Blouberg Range in Limpopo, South Africa.^[1]

Description

The wingspan is 58–65 mm for males and 60–68 mm for females. Adults are on wing from late February to early March. There is one generation per year.^[2]

Habitat and behavior

Adults are observed residing in rocky grasslands with stunted forest clearings, specifically in areas with long grass like Merxmullera.^[3]

The larvae feed on various Poaceae species, including Eragrostis aspera, Ehrharta erecta and Pennisetum clandestinum.^{[citation needed]}

Subspecies

Dira swanepoeli swanepoeli (northern Transvaal)
Dira swanepoeli isolata van Son, 1955 (Blouberg Range in northern Transvaal)

References

^ "Dira Hübner, [1819]" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
^ Woodhall, Steve (2001). "Looking for Dira". Metamorphosis. 12 (2). The Lepidopterists' Society of Afrcia: 50–52. ISSN 1018-6490 – via Lepsoc.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: ignored ISSN errors (link)

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[1] "Dira Hübner, [1819]" at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms

[2] Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.

[3] Woodhall, Steve (2001). "Looking for Dira". Metamorphosis. 12 (2). The Lepidopterists' Society of Afrcia: 50–52. ISSN 1018-6490 – via Lepsoc.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: ignored ISSN errors (link)

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