Neptis metella

N. metella Dbl. Hew. (48 c) is the only African species in which the underside of the hindwing proximally to the median band is yellow with numerous sharply defined, rounded blackish spots. The cell of the forewing at its hindmargin with long white longitudinal stripes, slightly widened distally; the hindmarginal spot very small, discal spots 2 and 3 rather large, not or narrowly separated from one another, cliscal spots 4—6 small and separated; marginal line 1 is placed far from the distal margin and consists of small, irregularly arranged, free spots, closely approximated to the discal spots; marginal line 4 is absent on both wings above and is only weakly marked beneath; median band of the hindwing 3–4 mm. in breadth, on the under surface distally bounded by black spots; the first margined line of the hindwing dull and separated by large, free blackish spots from the second marginal line, which is broader and whiter. Sierra Leone to the southern Congo and the Victoria Nyanza. —• gratilla Mab. only differs in the larger and more sharply prominent white markings. MadagascarAurivillius, [P.O.]C. 1908-1924. In: Seitz, A. Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde Band 13: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die afrikanischen Tagfalter, 1925, 613 Seiten, 80 Tafeln (The Macrolepidoptera of the World 13).Alfred Kernen Verlag, Stuttgart.{{PD-notice}}

[https://bench.boldsystems.org/index.php/Taxbrowser_Taxonpage?taxid=765991 Images BOLD]

The larvae feed on Acalypha neptunica pubescens.

• Neptis metella metella (Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria to Democratic Republic of the Congo, western Uganda, southern Sudan, north-western Tanzania)
• Neptis metella flavimacula Jackson, 1951 (Uganda: east to the western slopes of Mount Elgon, western Kenya)

It is the nominotypical member of the metella Species groupThe species of this group differing from other Neptis with a 'white discal band in having the base of the hind¬ wing beneath spotted, not banded with white. The first marginal band of the forewing forms at vein 4 a sharp angle proximad.

The members are

• Neptis metella
• Neptis saclava

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Category:Butterflies described in 1848

metella

Category:Butterflies of Africa

Category:Taxa named by Edward Doubleday

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