Cape Black-eye
Common NameCape Black-eye
Scientific NameParalasa parva
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, black, white
HabitatFynbos, montane grasslands, rocky slopes
Geographic RangeWestern Cape, South Africa
Host Plantsgrasses
Flight PeriodOctober to January
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae are typically green or brown and feed on various grass species before pupating into a chrysalis.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its overall brown coloration, the series of prominent black eyespots with white rings on the underside of the wings, and its specific habitat in the fynbos of the Western Cape.
Description
A small to medium-sized brown butterfly with a slightly darker body, featuring prominent black eyespots ringed with white on the underside of both forewings and hindwings, and a distinct white fringe along the wing margins.
