Visual Description

Rarity: E. vashti is extremely rare and we only saw two specimens, both being males, during the year 2003. Since then, we have kept a record of sightings to determine the stability of the butterfly in the Ibilanghlolo Valley. This is as follows:

It is with a difficult realization that this butterfly could easily become extinct due to fires, development or vandalism. It has been necessary that we breed this butterfly, using specimens from the three colonies we have found, so as to keep the gene pool strong and release these specimens after breeding, back into the area from which they were captured. Of the specimens bred, ninety percent are released immediately back into the environment and the remainder kept for scientific purposes. The last controlled breeding took place in 2007. E. dryope angulata (yellow-orange band) is common, E. hiarbas angustata (white band) is common, E. hiarbas angustata f. flavescens (narrow yellow-orange band) is extremely rare, E. hiarbas angustata f. vashti (dark brown band) is extremely rare.

Ovum: The ovum of E.vashti (ms) is exactly the same as E. hiarbas angustata and E. dryope angulata, from what I can see. The egg has the same rounded shape, approximately the same size, the same cilia and colour of all the Eurytela’s I have seen so far. It is rather impossible to tell any great significant differences using a loop (single lens magnifier) of which I have at my disposal. All the E. hiarbas angustata’s and E. dryope angulata’s, have been found to prefer Tragia glabrata, which has rather solid and sharp spines that would give you a healthy burn once it penetrated the skin. While Eurytela vashti (ms) is found so far only on (unidentified host), which has a stem coated with soft hair, almost velvety. The larva of E. hiarbas angustata and E. dryope angulata like to keep hidden on the stems of this prickly plant Tragia glabrata to protect themselves from predators. While on the other hand the larva of E. vashti (ms) like to lie in the centre of the leaf on the main vein of a leaf that has some kind of a black fungus growth (soot-like) covering it. Here their dark brown colour hides them perfectly from the sight of predators. The larva is a dark brown colour and resembles those of E. dryope angulata. But all the appendages of E. hiarbas angustata and E. dryope angulata larva are the same, with E. hiarbas angustata having green and brown coloured larva of more or less the same ratio in colour. Although in E. dryope angulata there seems to be a smaller ratio of green larva. E. vashti (ms), so far has only produced larva that are dark brown in colour.

Pupae: The pupae are a dark brown colour and resemble those of E. dryope angulata. But all the appendages of pupae are the same, with E. hiarbas angustata having green and brown coloured pupae of more or less the same ratio in colour. Although in E. dryope angulata, thus far have only given me brown pupae. E. vashti (ms), so far has only produced pupae that are dark brown and no green coloured pupae.

Appearance: Throughout the year.

Conservation of Butterflies in South Africa Research Material. (30th November 2002, by Earle Whiteley). Updated 2017.

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