Butterfly Farming in the East Usambara Mountains - Eastern Arc ...

very common. It occurs from 300 meters to 900 meters but is most common around 400
to 600 meters. It can be trapped with fermenting bananas.
• Hamanumida daedalus – Common year round in disturbed areas. Flies very low along
ground. Host plant not yet identified. Related to Euphaedra, so possible problems with
humidity changes in shipping. Adults are attracted to fermenting fruit.
• Hypolimnas antevorta – Endemic to the East Usambara Mountains. Some unconfirmed
reports from the West Usambara Mountains. Though it is seen every month of the year, it
is most prevalent in August, September, and October at altitudes between 800 and 300
meters. Adults feed on mango. It is easily bread on Urera species.
• Hypolimnas anthedon – This species is common year round along rivers and roads from
900 meters to 300 meters and is an excellent mimic of Amauris niavius and Amauris
albimaculata. Females will only lay eggs on the common Laportia species found in rocky
areas. However, large larvae will migrate to any species of Urera once they have finished
their Laportia food plant. Adults will feed on mango.
• Hypolimnas misippus – This species is very common in Amani at 800-900 meters in open
areas during the months of January, February, and March. It is likely available at lower
elevations at other times of the year. It uses a species of Justica that grows in open,
grassy areas.
• Hypolimnas usambara – This gigantic species is very reclusive and as a result rarely seen
in Amani. It may be more common in the Kambai Forest Reserve. It specializes on Urera
sansibarica growing off of rocky cliffs or boulders, preferring to lay eggs at the ends of
the growing tips. It has been seen from 500 meters to 800 meters, usually in dense forest.
Adults likely feed on fermenting fruit.
• Junonia oenone – This species is common in Amani during the dryer months, though
some can be seen year round in open grassy areas. It most likely uses a species of Justica
or Asystasia, but no plant has been located yet. Found at all elevations in Amani. The
pupa phase is likely very short at around 5 or 6 days.
• Junonia terea – This species is more of a forest edge species than oenone. It is common
in Amani year round from 600 meters and up and lays on Justica and Asystasia growing
along the forest edge. The specific plant has not been located. The pupa phase is also
likely short at 5 or 6 days.
• Precis octavia – This species is small but seems to have sufficiently long pupae phase for
shipping. It breeds on Katange (Kiswahili) a houseplant with green and maroon leaves
that must be in the Lamiaceae family. Females also lay eggs on wild members of this
family, but not as frequently. I have not worked out its seasonality but it seems to be
found in the Amani area at all elevations in low numbers year round. Adults in captivity
will feed on mango.
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