Autumn leaf vagrant

Introduction: Autumn-leaf Vagrants (Eronia leda) are also known as the Orange-and-Lemon Butterfly. They are the brightest coloured Vagrant in Namibia. Late afternoon is the best time to seek and catch as they slow down then and look and feed on flowers. Bushveld is a favoured habitat.

Distribution: Northern Namibia.

Breeding/Larval: Eggs are elongated, tapering at both ends. Pupal wing cases are enlarged and flattened laterally, which gives it a leaf-like appearance. They hang from their tails and are held upright by a girdle wound round the thorax.

Colouration: Yellow with orange tips. Males and females have similar uppersides in the dry season but differ in the wet-season. The undersides of both sexes are yellow with thin mottling on the hindwing. Brown flecks appear in the dry season.

On the wing: All year-round particularly in the summer months.

Wingspan: Male: 50 to 55mm. Female: 45 to 55mm.