White cloaked skipper

Introduction: Male White-cloaked Skippers (Leucochitonia levubu) establish territories, usually on the tops of koppies at midday and defend their ground against intruders from an established vantage point, usually a low, but prominent perch. This species are attracted to muddy patches of ground.

Distribution: Etosha National Park , Kaokoland , Damaraland , central and southern Kalahari Desert , Caprivi Strip, Rundu , Kavango River.

Breeding/Larval food: Leaves of the velvet raisin bush (Grewia flava), a deciduous to semi-deciduous shrub which grows in a variety of Namibian habitats less for the Namib Desert.

Colouration: Snow-white uppersides with black borders and blackened veins on the forewing. The undersides are similar to the uppersides.

On the wing: From November to April.

Wingspan: Male: 30 to 35mm. Female: 35 to 40mm.