Torynesis mintha, the mintha widow, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa.

Mintha widow
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Nymphalidae
Genus: Torynesis
Species:
T. mintha
Binomial name
Torynesis mintha
(Geyer, [1837])[1]
Synonyms
  • Dira mintha Geyer, [1837]

The wingspan is 40–45 mm for males and 45–48 mm for females. Adults of subspecies mintha are on wing from March to April and of piquetbergensis from April to May. There is one generation per year.[2]

The larvae feed on various Poaceae species, including Merxmuellera and Danthonia species.

Subspecies

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  • Torynesis mintha mintha (south-western Cape)
  • Torynesis mintha piquetbergensis Dickson, 1967 (Piquetberg Mountains)

References

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  1. ^ "Torynesis Butler, [1899]" 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.