Spialia nanus, the dwarf sandman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa, in the western Cape, western Free State, southern North West Province and the northern Cape.

Spialia nanus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Spialia
Species:
S. nanus
Binomial name
Spialia nanus
(Trimen, 1889)[1]
Synonyms
  • Pyrgus nanus Trimen, 1889
  • Syrichtus nanus

The wingspan is 18–24 mm for males and 23–27 mm for females. There are two generations per year with peaks from March to April and from September to October.[2]

The larvae feed on Hermannia species (including Hermannia diffusa, Hermannia incana, Hermannia comosa, Hermannia cuneifolia, Hermannia pulverata) and Hebiscus aethiopicus.

References

edit
  1. ^ Spialia at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.