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the web of life in southern Africa

Acacia >

Ecological relationships of Acacia species in southern Africa

The genus Acacia is represented in southern Africa by over 100 native and naturalised species. Ecological relationships are numerous and the list below is just a start to summarising the relationships that have been recorded.

Herbivores

List of Lepidoptera from Kroon (1999).

Anthene amarah

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia ataxacantha, Acacia gerrardii, Acacia karroo, Acacia nilotica, Acacia sieberiana.

Anthene contrastata

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

Anthene crawshayi

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia polyacantha.

 

Anthene definita

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia karroo, Acacia mearnsii (naturalised species), Acacia saligna (naturalised species).

Anthene kersteni

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia kraussiana

Anthene otacilia

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia karroo.

Anthene talboti

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia karroo.

Aphnaeus hutchinsonii

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia robusta.

Axiocerses amanga

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia mearnsii (naturalised species).

Axiocerses tjoane (Common scarlet)

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia abyssinica, Acacia karroo, Acacia polyacantha

Azanus jesous

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

Azanus mirza

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia kraussiana

Azanus moriqua

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia karroo.

Azanus natalensis (Natal spotted blue)

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia abyssinica, Acacia karroo.

 

Azanus ubaldus

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia karroo.

 

Chloroselas argentea

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

 

Chrysoritis chrysaor

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia karroo.

Cigaritis ella

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia spp.

Cigaritis homeyeri

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

Cigaritis phanes

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia mellifera.

Cigaritis victoriae

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

 

Crudaria leroma

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia karroo, Acacia sieberiana.

Deudorix diocles

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

Deudorix penningtoni (Pennington's playboy)

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia burkei, Acacia caffra

 

Deudorix vansoni  

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia burkei, Acacia caffra

Triclema nigeriae

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia abyssinica

 

Uranothauma nubifer

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia abyssinica, Acacia karroo.

Tuxentius melaena

Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

Charaxes baumanni

Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia brevispica.

 

Charaxes ethalion

Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia ataxacantha, Acacia kirkii

Charaxes phaeus

Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia goetzei, Acacia nigrescens.

Charaxes zoolina

Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia brevispica, Acacia karroo, Acacia kraussiana, Acacia natalitia, Acacia pentagona, Acacia schweinfurthii

Eurema senegalensis

Lepidoptera: Pieridae

Larvae eat the leaves. Recorded on Acacia sp.

 

Hippotion celerio (Silver Striped Hawkmoth)

Lepidoptera: Sphingidae (hawkmoths)

Caterpillar eats the leaves. Recorded on Acacia caffra, Acacia karroo.

Hippotion Celeria Male

 

 

 

References

  • Kroon, D.M. 1999. Lepidoptera of Southern Africa. Host-plants and other Associations. A Catalogue. Lepidopterists' Society of Africa, South Africa.