From West Africa to western Kenya is the range of the Alcinoe Legionnaire (Acraea alcinoe) butterfly.
Specifically, the butterfly favors a forest environment. It prefers to live in the shade provided by healthy rain forests. But it can be found in disturbed environments, such as forests that have been or are being logged.
Acraea alcinoe is the scientific, Latin or binominal name of the Alcinoe Legionnaire butterfly.Specifically, such has not always been the case. Previously, the butterfly was included within the butterfly genus Bematistes. Both Acraea and the Bematistesinclude species from the brush-footed family of butterflies. Butterflies that should or should not be in the former category has been a historically controversial issue among scientists.
Wingspans of 2.8 inches (7 centimeters) in males and 3.7 inches (9.5 centimeters) in females are characteristic of the Alcinoe Legionnaire (Acraea alcinoe) butterfly.Specifically, the female is distinct from the female in both size and color. The female's forewings are much broader than the male's. Additionally, the male's orange-brown bands contrast markedly with the female's white.
All year round is the flight period of the Alcinoe Legionnaire (Acraea alcinoe) butterfly.Specifically, it is possible that the butterfly may be seen at any time, from West Africa to western Kenya. But the numbers may be greater early on in the year and much less so later on. It depends upon what is going on in the butterfly's life cycle and in the immediate environment.
Members of the Adenia genus in the passionflower family (Passifloraceae) are the larval food plant of the Alcinoe Legionnaire (Acraea alcinoe) butterfly.Specifically, the plant stores water in parts other than leaves, such as stems, stem bases or roots. This is an adaptation to the dry climate and dry soil in which the plant grows. The sap in many of the plant's species is toxic.
The shade of the West African rain forest is the habitat of the Alcinoe Legionnaire (Acraea alcinoe) butterfly.Specifically, the butterfly prefers the filtered light of healthy rain forests. But the butterfly also accepts less healthy forests that have been or are being logged. The critical factor is access to members of the Adenia genus of plants. This is the larval food plant for the butterfly's caterpillar stage.
From the eastern Congo to Uganda and Kenya is the range of the Black-winged Legionnaire (Acraea astoboloplintha).Specifically, the butterfly is native to Africa. Within its range, it prefers semi-open areas. So it may be found in a range of settings, from forest clearings and scattered woodlands to even parks.
Hewitson's Glassy Legionnaire is the common name of the Acraea admatha.Specifically, the butterfly is a colorful inhabitant of sub-Saharan Africa. As often is the case, the male is a bit smaller and flashier than the female of the species. So the male includes red on the hind wings whereas the female's colors in the same places are reddish brown or even gray.
Sub-Saharan Africa north of South Africa is the range of the Small Yellow-banded Legionnaire (Acraea acerata) butterfly.Specifically, the butterfly favors the cultivated and open areas of tropical Africa. The butterfly is found neither in North Africa nor in the Republic of South Africa. The caterpillar stage of the butterfly is fearless in its pursuit of its favorite plant within the morning glory family: sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas).
A wingspan of 2.4 inches (6 centimeters) is characteristic of the Black-winged Legionnaire (Acraea asboloplintha) butterfly.Specifically, the butterfly is noticeable for its size and color. Its hind wing is red on males and red-brown on females. Its larger, broader forewing is a dramatic black on both the male and the female Black-winged Legionnaire.
All year round is the flight period of the Small Yellow-banded Legionnaire (Acraea acerata) butterfly.Specifically, the colorful butterflies may be seen throughout the year. But the populations may be greater or small depending upon what else is going on in the butterfly's life cycle and in the immediate environment. Under optimum conditions, the butterfly population may number in thousands early in the year and in the handful later on.
The duration of Legionnaire - film - is 1.65 hours.
Acraea asboloplintha is the scientific, Latin or binomial name of the Black-winged Legionnaire butterfly.Specifically, the name comes from the blackness of butterfly's forewing. The hind wing is red on males and red-brown on females. There are also some black spots, but not enough to darken the overall cheery lower coloring.