Butterflies of Africa
Common Brown Playboy
Family - LYCAENIDAE
subfamily - THECLINAE
Tribe - DEUDORIGINI
Gemi, Likpe Hills, Ghana / Togo border
© Adrian Hoskins
Deudorix comprises of 61 species
distributed variously across Africa, south-east Asia and Australia.
There are 29 species in Africa, including 6 on Madagascar, 3 of
which are endemic to the island.
The butterflies are
known popularly as Playboys due to the habit of territorial males of
cavorting in aerial combat around the top of small bushes.
Deudorix antalus is one of the most
widespread species in the genus, being found throughout the
sub-Saharan part of the continent including Madagascar, the Comores,
Mauritius and Reunion.
This is primarily a savannah species, but can be found in disturbed
forest in clearings and along the forest roads. It can also be seen
in parks, arboreta, and village gardens.
The larva is polyphagous - recorded foodplants include
Paphia and Caspicum.
sit conspicuously on the topmost leaves of bushes, which they defend
against other passing males. Both sexes migrate daily to hilltops
where these are available, for courtship and copulation.
Both sexes are attracted to
Tridax and other flowers for nectar.
Males also mud-puddle to obtain minerals which they pass to females