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Project Noah Nature School
Deudorix antalus
This amazing little butterfly/moth appears to be involved in some kind of trickery. Quite small, about 2cm long only. Wings underneath are a sort of pastel apricot to grey colour, with some apricot and black edging appearing here and there. Body is cream to grey. Eyes are large and black and antennae are black and grey. I did not see the wings opened, but suspect the colours are apricot and black. At the anterior end of the wings, there is some kind of trickery going on with a large black spot, small orange patch and even little antennae like extensions from the wings.
Seen on large palm fronds in open coastal bush very close to the beach
I thought this was extraordinary, i can't believe i didn't' get shots of his wings open, but it seems not. I was so taken with these antennae like things and the apparent attempt to deceive which was the head end, this was my focus at the time. Thanks James and Daniele for the ID !
Hi MudWiggle! The clubbed antenna on this lepidopteran indicate it's a butterfly and not a moth. It belongs to the family Lycaenidae, and is most likely in the genus Deudorix, of which there are many representatives in Africa. I'm unsure of the exact species; this will need more research but maybe in the mean time someone else will be able to help further. What you describe as little antennae like extensions from the wings, on the posterior end of the hindwings, are called tails.
Spotted on Sep 5, 2013
Submitted on Oct 7, 2015
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