Common evening brown
Introduction: Common Evening Browns (Melantis
leda helena) are also known as twilight browns, a reference to their flying
hours. Concealment in daylight amongst dead leaves and debris under trees and
bushes is common, thick bush being a favoured habitat.
Distribution: The rainforests
of northern Namibia.
Colouration: The upperside of
the forewing sports a comma-shaped black eye-spot, surrounding 2 white spots.
All 3 spots are enclosed with a buff-orange colour. There are 1 to 3 small black
eye-spots, each with a white centre on the hindwing.
Breeding: In Greek mythology,
Leda was the egg-laying mother of Castor and Pollux.
On the wing: Flies throughout
the year often in ground level shady areas.
Wingspan: Male: 60 to 65mm.
Female: 65 to 70mm.
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