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Dingana alticola

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Red-banded widow
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Dingana
Species:
D. alticola
Binomial name
Dingana alticola
Henning & Henning, 1996[1]

Dingana alticola, the red-banded widow, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is only known from high altitude grassland in the Steenkampsberg area in the Mpumalanga province.

Description

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The wingspan is 57–64 mm for males and 56–61 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to November (with a peak in October). There is one generation per year.[2]

Habitat and behavior

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Similar to D. angusta, these butterflies are associated with Lydenburg Montane Grassland (Gm 18). The species is found at 2100 metres altitude on a rocky ridge along Verlorenvallei dirt road.[3]

The larvae feed on various Poaceae species.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ Dingana at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  3. ^ Williams, M. C. (2009). "Two specials in two weekends- rediscovering Lepidochryops lotana and Dingana fraterna" (PDF). Metamorphosis. 20 (1). The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 11–14.