Why do butterflies love dead chameleons? And what’s that festive-looking caterpillar doing in your garden? Our entomologist breaks down these amazing wildlife encounters that prove nature is stranger than fiction!
Quite a looker
Pieter Broere from Pretoria writes: I recently came across this colourful caterpillar while working in the garden – it was about 2 cm long and looked like a little Christmas tree. What is it and can you tell me more about it?
Entomologist Duncan MacFadyen says: This is the rayed slug moth caterpillar, which belongs to the family Limacodidae. This species of slug moth was first described by Austrian entomologist Rudolf Felder in 1874.
It does indeed look like a Christmas tree – something that’s characteristic of this group of moths. The caterpillar is green with white bars and blue dots, and has interesting large, barbed projections. The cocoon is a hard brown egg cemented to branches of the host plant. There are seven species in this genus in southern Africa.
This species is widespread in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Kenya, Uganda and Ethiopia. The caterpillars feed on plants like thorn trees, black wattle and cotton, and they’re regularly seen in thornveld or wattle-infested areas. The adults generally fly from September to April.
Don’t touch this caterpillar as the spines can cause intense irritation. They’re beautiful, but the colouration is a sure warning to would-be predators that they’re off the menu.
Pretty gross
Judy Cronje from Muldersdrift writes: We came across this unusual sight during a recent visit to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve. There was an abundance of butterflies in the reserve and they all congregated at puddles of water or on animal dung. We were surprised to see this group on a chameleon we assume had been run over. Do butterflies eat carrion?
Entomologist Duncan MacFadyen says: There are two species of butterfly here and both belong to the Nymphalidae family.
The butterfly with the orange, black and white markings is a common joker. It has a year-round flight period and is commonly found in grassland and dry, open savannah habitats across all the provinces except the Western Cape.
The yellow butterfly with the black markings and blue spot is a yellow pansy. It regularly inhabits open, sunny areas, particularly in the eastern and southern parts of South Africa. It’s frequently seen in gardens, grassland and savannah. The males often establish territories on roads and game paths, which they patrol actively.
Butterflies are not only attracted to moisture in wet sand and mud, but also in animal faeces and in dead animals. These have congregated on the dead flap-necked chameleon to obtain minerals, salts and amino acids, which are lacking in their diet.
“Puddling” is the term used for taking in moisture and nutrients from mud puddles and other sources – this behaviour is mostly seen in male butterflies.
When butterflies are puddling, they’re often so absorbed in what they’re doing that you can get quite close, which leads to wonderful photo opportunities.
Every month our experts answer your questions about birds, bugs and beasts. Send your photos and queries to editor@gomag.co.za.
