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Thestor protumnus aridus
Small (25-40mm), inconspicuous butterfly. Has a buff coloured upper-side with dark markings.
Found in small colonies associated with Anplolepis ants. Occurs in Fynbos and Nama and Succulent Karoo in South Africa. The larvae (caterpillars) shelter undergoround inside Anoplolepis ant nests where they are fed via trophallaxis by the ants themselves. Pupates underground before emerging as an adult. the adult butterflies have no functional mouthparts and do not feed.
Three subspecies: T. p. protumnus, T, p. aridus, and T. p. terblanchi. T.p aridus has a desert form, f. mijburghi.
Spotted on Dec 21, 2010
Submitted on May 4, 2013
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