Westwood's Acraea
Common NameWestwood's Acraea
Scientific NameAcraea westwoodi
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyAcraeinae
Wingspan (mm)55
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, black
HabitatTropical rainforests, forest edges, clearings, secondary growth
Geographic RangeWest and Central Africa (e.g., Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania)
Host PlantsAdenia spp., Passifloraceae
Flight PeriodYear-round, with peaks during rainy seasons
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are spiny and typically feed gregariously on host plants from the Passifloraceae family, particularly *Adenia* species. Pupae are suspended.
Identification TipsKey features include the vivid orange ground color, the distinctive pattern of black spots, and the prominent black apical and marginal bands on the forewings, which are less defined on the hindwings.
Description
This butterfly features bright orange wings adorned with numerous black spots across both forewings and hindwings, complemented by broad black margins on the forewings.
