African wood white
Both L. a. inalcesta
Mabibi, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Leptosia
Species:
L. alcesta
Binomial name
Leptosia alcesta
(Stoll, [1782])[1]
Synonyms
  • Papilio alcesta Stoll, [1782]
  • Papilio narica Fabricius, 1793
  • Pseudopontia cepheus Ehrmann, 1894
  • Leucophasia sylvicola Boisduval, 1833

Leptosia alcesta, the African wood white or flip flop, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae, found in Africa.[1]

The wingspan is 30–40 mm in males and 35–42 mm in females. The adults fly year-round, peaking from March to May.[2]

The larvae feed on Ritchiea species, Capparis fascicularis, and Capparis brassii.[2]

Subspecies

References

  1. ^ a b Leptosia alcesta, funet.fi
  2. ^ a b Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.