Tirumala petiverana

Tirumala petiverana, the blue monarch, African blue tiger, or dappled monarch, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is widespread in tropical and subtropical Sub-Saharan Africa. Their habitat consists of Afromontane, lowland and riverine forests as well as moist savanna.^[1][2]

Tirumala petiverana
Bobiri Forest, Ghana
Feeding on sunflower nectar
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Nymphalidae
Genus:	Tirumala
Species:	T. petiverana
Binomial name
Tirumala petiverana (Doubleday, [1847])
Synonyms
Danais limniace var. petiverana Doubleday, [1847] Tirumala leonora (Butler, 1866) Tirumala phrynichus Fruhstorfer, 1910 Tirumala septentrionides Stoneham, 1958

Male mud-puddling

The wingspan is 60–75 mm. There is one generation per year. Adults are on wing from February to May (with peaks in April) in Zimbabwe.

The larvae feed on Pergularia extensa, Pergularia daemia, Daemia, Hoya, and Marsdenia rubicunda.^[3]

References

1. Selb, H.E.T.; Westrip, J.R.S. (2020). "Tirumala petiverana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161322699A161322711. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161322699A161322711.en. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. p. 36. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
3. Tirumala petiverana at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms

• Seitz, A. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 25