Butterfly List
A place for rare butterflies to be and to be protected as they are extremely rare. Only a few have ever been caught, but through our breeding program we have been able to breed over one hundred and have released them back into the wild. Thanks to the dedication of a few who cared for their survival, a very rare butterfly, has been described.
Unusual Sightings of Butterflies
This is a new addition to our website, due to frequent requests from individuals who have photographed butterflies that have not been seen in areas before. This allows us to investigate, meet the persons and with their help try to verify their findings. This is important and is an indicator of how our environment is changing. An expert collector, Dr David Swanepeol made this statement. “Butterflies know no boundaries” – D.A.Swanepoel 1967 after discovering a butterflies that should not occur in Kwa Zulu Natal.
Eastern Cape
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Free State
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Gauteng
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Kwa Zulu Natal
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Limpopo
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Mpumalanga
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Northern Cape
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
North West
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Western Cape
Junonia orithia madagascariensis -2020
They are known to be found from Mozambique and petering out in the Eastern Cape. We found several small colonies in Mosselbay, Western Cape. A single male specimen was found in Ruiterbosch, 30km from Mosselbay at the foot of Robertson’s Pass. Specimens collected are found in the Whiteley’s collection at the Western Cape Butterfly Sanctuary (WCBS) Specimen sightings have continued in the same areas in 2021 to 2026.
Vanessa hippomene hippomene (female) – 2022,
This butterfly was seen sitting on a chilli tree at the Ruiterbosh Family Fun Farm by Earle Whiteley. It has not been seen again in the area. Some somewhere close by should be a small colony, suspected to be close to the Robertson’s Pass, near a steam or water which its host plant favours.
Precis octavia sesamus 2024
This butterfly species has not been recorded in the Western Cape before. A small colony was found by Aiden Raby near Wilderness on a kopikie near their farm. A single female was spotted at Leeukloof flying over a grassy glade between two strips on indigenous forest mixed with black wattle near a running stream.
Coeliades pisistratus 2025
This delightful fast flying skipper is seldom seen by a novice. They don’t stick around for a quick pic. Known to be in the northern parts of South Africa. The sighting took place at a chapel in Ruiterbosch Western Cape and was observed by both Lionel Reesberg and Earle Whiteley at around 3pm on a sunny day feeding on a bed of wild flowers. To dart of and lost to the eye.
Erytela hairbas angustata f.flavescense (male) – 2025
Unfortunately, there is no photograph of a live specimen of this elusive butterfly. Being very rare. It was taken in a trap net on banana bait at Leeukloof near Mosselbay (Western Cape) on a windy day amongst some indigenous vegetation by Earle Whiteley accompanied by Hanlo Nel. There are very few specimens in the world ant at the last count only 15. Known to be found in Kwa Zulu Natal and in the Eastern Cape. A single specimen (m) was found by Dr. Reinier Terblanch from Potchefstroom University, on a kopie near Pretoria, who donated the specimen to the Whiteley’s collection with 11 known specimens.
Hypolimnas deceptor deceptor (m) – 2026
What a surprise!!! This butterfly was seen darting across and open space between buildings on a farm to sit upside down against a dark wood slated wall near the roof gutters. It sat for several seconds and darted off over the roof not to be found again, although we tried. It was the first time that Lionel Reesberg and Earle whitely had ever seen one in the Western Cape, near Mosselbay in Ruiterbosch.
Botswana
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Namibia
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Zimbabwe
If you see a butterfly you do not know, take a pic and send it to us and we will identify it for you. If it should not be were you found it, we will come and visit you. info@cbisa.co.za
Butterfly Life Cycle & Connected Host Plants
Charaxes brutus natalensis  | Charaxes veranus veranus  | Danaus chrysippus aegyptius  |
Euxantha wakefieldi  | Hypolycaena philippus philippus | Papilio dardanus cenea  |
Papilio nireus lyaeus  | Papilio demodocus demodocus  | Papilio ophidicephlus phalusco  |