Ypthima impura

Ypthima impura
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Tribe:	Satyrini
Genus:	Ypthima
Species:	Y. impura
Binomial name
Ypthima impura Elwes & Edwards, 1893[1]
Synonyms
Ypthima impura f. impura Elwes & Edwards, 1893 Ypthima pupillaris paupera Ungemach, 1932 Ypthima pupillaris f. hiemis Ungemach, 1932 Ypthima impura f. badhami van Son, 1955 Ypthima badhami Ypthima paupera

The Impure Ringlet (Ypthima impura, known in Afrikaans as the Vuil-ringetjie) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in most of sub-Saharan Africa.

The wingspan is 32–36 mm for males and 34–38 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peak in early summer and autumn in southern Africa.^[2] The butterfly usually has three ocelli on the underside of their hindwing, although these may not appear during the dry season.^[3]

The larvae feed on Poaceae grasses. Larvae have also been reared on Ehrharta erecta.^[4] Females are usually more sedentary than males, with stouter abdomens.^[5]

Subspecies

• Ypthima impura impura (Ivory Coast to Nigeria, Cameroon, Zaire, Angola)^[6]
• Ypthima impura paupera Ungemach, 1932 -Bushveld Ringlet (Ethiopia, from eastern Africa to Transvaal and KwaZulu-Natal)^[6]

References

1. Ypthima, Site of Markku Savela
2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
3. Subtribe Ypthima
4. Swaziland National Trust Commission Archived March 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
5. Willis, C. and S. Woodhall. Butterflies of South Africa's National Botanical Gardens. SANBI Biodiversity Series 16, 2010.
6. Afrotropical Butterflies: File E – Nymphalidae - Subtribe Ypthimina