Red tip

Introduction: Red Tips (Colotis antevippe gavisa) are one of the most widespread and common butterflies of this species. Similar to other members of this genus it display seasonal and sexual dimorphism. Habitats include savannah bushveld and open woodland.

Distribution: Etosha National Park , Epupa Falls, Ruacana Falls, Kavango River region, Zambezi Region (formerly the Caprivi Strip) , Damaraland , central and northern Namibia, Kalahari Desert , Fish River Canyon.

Breeding/Larval food: Shepherd's tree (Boscia albitrunca) leaves.

Colouration: The wet-season male is white above and the female is more heavily marked with black. Undersides of both sexes are yellowish with an 'orange flush' in the forewing apex. In the wet-season the wing veins are outlined in black and in the dry-season the black disappears.

On the wing: Any month of the year.

Wingspan: Male and female: 40 to 50mm.