Acraeidae - costers

Acraeidae - costers

The Acraeidae are small to medium sized butterflies with narrow wings and long slender abdomen. They are mostly distributed in Africa which together with Madagascar accounts for almost 200 of the known species. It is represented by only 2 members in India. They are predominantly of shades and reddish brown or sandy colour with a few dark markings. Forewings are long and hind wings rounded. They are slow flying and often gregarious. Most species eject a foul smelling oily yellow fluid from the thorax which deters the natural enemies especially the birds. On account of this , several members of Papilionidae and Lycaenidae mimic the members of this family o both in colour pattern and behaviors ( but not in India) Larvae are spiny with 6 rows of longitudinal bristles. Mostly feed on members of Passiforaeae, Asteraceae, Tiliaceae and Urticaceae.