It has been a summer of abundance. The rains came early, came hard, and kept coming, turning the reserve into something almost unrecognisable to those who only know it dry and golden. The bush is thick and deeply green, the rivers have run full, and the land feels replenished in a way that is almost audible.
One of the quieter gifts of all that water has been the butterflies. They have been everywhere, and unusually so, still fluttering around well into what should be the tail end of their season. It has felt like a small extravagance of nature, and I have not taken a single sighting for granted. With such an abundance of colour, I thought I would share my 5 favourite butterflies this year.
Citrus Swallowtail
One of the Lowveld’s most striking insects, the Citrus Swallowtail is bold in both size and marking, its yellow and black patterning edged with flashes of red and blue near the tail. It belongs to the swallowtail family, named for the elegant extensions trailing from its hindwings. The larvae feed on citrus and related trees, and the caterpillar is a marvel in its own right, mimicking a snake’s head when threatened. Find an adult nectaring on a flowering bush in full sun and it is genuinely difficult to look away.
African Monarch
Few butterflies carry themselves with the same quiet authority as the African Monarch. Its deep burnt-orange wings, veined in black and edged with white-spotted borders, are a warning to predators: the Monarch sequesters toxins from the milkweed plants its larvae feed on, making it unpalatable to most birds. This chemical defence is so effective that other species have evolved to mimic its colouring. This summer, we have seen a boom in the numbers of Monarchs, and there is something deeply grounding about watching a creature that has perfected the art of being left alone.
Brown-veined White
The slow-flying brown-veined white butterfly takes a break from its migratory path to feed on some nectar. Image captured by A. J. T. Johnsingh
To witness the migration of the Brown-veined White is to be reminded of just how alive the bush truly is. Each year, millions of these small white butterflies move in a single direction across southern Africa, a river of wings that can last for days. Scientists believe the migrations are triggered by overcrowding and food scarcity, but standing in the middle of one, that explanation feels inadequate. The brown veining on the underside of the wings, subtle and precise, is only visible when they briefly come to rest. This summer has given us that spectacle more than once.
Guineafowl Butterfly
Guinea fowl butterflies get their name from the birds with whom they share the same black and white spotty resemblance. There have been so many of these butterflies flying around camp lately that it felt right that they be included in TWIP this week.
Named for the bird whose distinctive spotted plumage it echoes, the Guineafowl Butterfly is one of the more understated beauties of the Lowveld. Its brown wings are scattered with pale spots in a pattern so deliberate it looks almost designed. It tends to keep to the dappled shade of the riverine forest, flying low and settling often, which makes it a butterfly for the attentive rather than the casual observer. The larvae feed on members of the Combretum family, trees that are woven through the fabric of this landscape, which means the Guineafowl Butterfly is, in a very real sense, a creature made by this specific place.
Blue Pansy
Small, electric, and impossible to overlook, the Blue Pansy is one of those species that makes you grateful you were looking down. The male carries vivid eye-spots of iridescent blue on its upper wings, used both to startle predators and to signal to rivals and potential mates. It is a territorial butterfly, often returning to the same sunlit patch of ground repeatedly, which means patience is rewarded. This season they have been scattered across the reserve at the edges of roads, on open patches of sand near the river, in the clearings between the trees.
All of them, in their way, are proof that when the land is cared for, it responds in ways you could never have planned for. This summer has been one long reminder of that truth.
Hello Keagan! Nothing can make me so happy as cubs or butterflies! Since a child I have had a true passion for them. I hated seeing them pinned, they belong to natural elements as you described so well. The magic of butterflies resides in their infinite shapes, colours combined, sizes, habits, they look like flowing flowers…. and , in spite of their frailty, they are strong… barely any weapons but mimicking or poison, they thrive in environments that are not polluted. I can’t be more grateful for those pictures and descriptions! ” butteflying”, like birding, is something I have done for ages….
Thank you, Keagan for the lovely blog on butterflies. They are such amazing creatures, so colourful and beautiful. I think, everybody just adores butterflies. And they have become so rare, at least here in Europa. So I’m always looking forward to seeing some when on safari in South Africa
And, by the way: Great photos. I love the one of the butterfly sitting on a lion’s back.
Pretty Blue Pansy Butterfly! The Pipevine swallowtail with its blue iridescence and underwing orange & white is a current favorite of mine. Thanks for the post Keagan!
Hi Keagan, all of these butterflies 🦋 are truly amazing. Their colours are stunning and eye catching. The Citrus Swallowtail and the Blue Pansy butterflies are my favourite.
I’ve been enjoying all the butterflies too! But I haven’t been as lucky as you to capture their images. It’s lovely to see them “stop-action!”
I’m not sure how I missed such a beautiful blog post, given the subject and photos of your favorite butterflies. I love watching them flitter throughout the garden, but unfortunately here in Northern California they have been scarce lately. On a recent day trip to Pt Reyes however, we saw dozens of Pipeline Swallowtails fluttering and feeding on a Salvia plant, gorgeous with spots reminiscent of your Citrus Swallowtail. The Blue Pansy is a definite favorite and the photo is fantastic.
I knew it! I saw a butterfly there that looked so much like a monarch, and Lex kept telling me there was no way they could be monarchs. Turns out they actually are or at least a version of them after reading your post.
Butterflies are such fascinating creatures. Tiny, fragile, and somehow still capable of crossing entire worlds.
Thank you, Keagan, for sharing a glimpse into your extraordinary life and knowledge. Youare incredibly talented. Cheers!