Tirumala formosa
| Tirumala formosa | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Tirumala formosa mercedonia from Uganda. Mounted specimen | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Nymphalidae |
| Genus: | Tirumala |
| Species: | T. formosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Tirumala formosa (Godman, 1880) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Tirumala formosa (Forest monarch or beautiful tiger) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family.
Description
Tirumala formosa has a wingspan reaching about 75–85 millimetres (3.0–3.3 in). The uppersides of the forewings are black with several white spots and a reddish-brown basal area. The uppersides of the hindwings are black, with a series of small white spots and a large hyaline basal area. The body is black with white spots. The undersides of the wings are similar to the uppersides, but the colours are paler.
This species is mimicked (Batesian mimicry) by the Kenyan forms of Regal Swallowtail (Papilio rex).
The larvae feed on Secamone - Secamone micrandra, Secamone platystigma, Secamone punctulosa, Secamone zambesiaca and Periploca linearifolia.[1]
Distribution
Tirumala formosa can be found in tropical Africa (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania).[1]
Habitat
This species lives in semi-montane forests, at an elevation of about 1,500–2,300 metres (4,900–7,500 ft) above sea level.
Subspecies
- Tirumala formosa formosa (E. Kenya - E of Rift Valley, NE. Tanzania)
- Tirumala formosa mercedonia (Karsch, 1894) (W. Kenya - W of Rift Valley, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, NW. Tanzania)
- Tirumala formosa morgeni (Honrath, 1892) (Cameroon)
- Tirumala formosa neumanni (Rothschild, 1902) (Ethiopia) [1]
References
- Biolib
- Mark C. Williams - Butterflies and Skippers of the Afrotropical Region
- Seitz, A. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 23 a morgeni, b mercedonia, formosa
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