Spialia sataspes, the Boland sandman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa, in fynbos in the western Cape and along the mountain chains of the northern Cape and along the coast to Port Elizabeth in the eastern Cape and inland to Bedford and Grahamstown.

Spialia sataspes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Hesperiidae
Genus: Spialia
Species:
S. sataspes
Binomial name
Spialia sataspes
(Trimen, 1864)[1]
Synonyms
  • Pyrgus sataspes Trimen, 1864
  • Syrichtus sataspes

The wingspan is 21–26 mm for males and 24–28 mm for females. There is one extended generation per year with peaks from November to January.[2]

The larvae feed on Hermannia species, Pavonia burchelli 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.