Ypthima asterope

African Ringlet
Y. a. mahratta Savan Durga, India
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Ypthima
Species:	Y. asterope
Binomial name
Ypthima asterope (Klug, 1832)[1]
Synonyms
Hipparchia asterope Klug, 1832 Ypthima mahratta Ypthima hereroica Ypthima asterope ab. simpliciocellata Strand, 1909 Ypthima asterope ab. hereroica Grünberg, 1910

The African Ringlet or Common Threering (Ypthima asterope) is a species of Satyrinae butterfly found in most dry areas of both Africa and Asia.

The wingspan is 30–34 mm for males and 32–38 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks in summer and autumn in southern Africa. There is one generation per year.^[2]

The larvae feed on Poaceae grasses. Larvae have also been reared on Ehrharta erecta.

Subspecies

• Ypthima asterope asterope (India, Arabia, northern Tropical Africa)
• Ypthima asterope mahratta Moore, 1884 (north-western India to Assam)
• Ypthima asterope hereroica van Son, 1955 (Southern Africa, Namibia)

References

1. Ypthima, Site of Markku Savela
2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.