Banded gold tip

Introduction: Banded Gold Tips (Colotis eris eris) are both seasonally and sexually dimorphic. As they are fast and erratic bushveld fliers, they can be difficult to net.

Distribution: Found throughout Namibia. Observations have been recorded in the Brandberg Mountains.

Breeding/Larval food: Males fly around larval host-plants in search of females.

Colouration: The wet-season male is white above with some dull gold 'cells' framed in dull purple. There are other black dots and bars on both fore and hindwings. Females are similar but with a narrower black border. Females have some blackish or brownish spots. The dry-season forms have reduced black markings on the upperside and the undersides are yellowish and white in the summer and ochraceous and whitish in winter.

On the wing: September to April.

Wingspan: Male and female: 40 to 45mm.