Common Bush Brown butterfly

Afrikaans name: Swart-bosbruintjie

isiZulu name: Unsand'Onwele Zimnyama Wehlati

isiXhosa name: Umdak' oMnyama weHlathi

Common Bush Brown

Photo © Steven Herbert

Bicyclus safitza

The Common Bush Brown butterfly is also known as the Common Savanna Bush Brown as well as Black-haired Bush Brown.

It is a medium sized butterfly which has a wing-span of around 4.5 cm. Females are slightly larger than males.

The Common Bush Brown can be found at all times of the year. As its name suggests it is very common.

They occur in a broad band along the eastern regions of South Africa.

The caterpillars colouration reminds me of a humbug. It has longitudinal stripes of varying shades of brown.

Photo © Steven Herbert

They are normally found along forest edges and flat-lands.

References and further reading

Ivor Migdoll s Field Guide to the Butterflies of Southern Africa - Author: Ivor Migdoll - Published: 1987 - Page: 147

Self-guided Trails in Durban - Author: Durban Corporation - Published: 0 - Page: 122

What s That Butterfly - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2008 - Page: 416

What s That Butterfly - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2008 - Page: 1072

Gardening for Butterflies - Author: Steve Woodhall & Lindsay Gray - Published: 2015 - Page: 32

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2020 - Page: 48

Field Guide to Insects of South Africa - Author: Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths and Alan Weaving - Published: 0 - Page: 374

Familiar South African Butterflies - Author: Clive Quickelberge - Published: 1986 - Page: 19

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 1st edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2005 - Page: 42

Butterflies of the Kruger National Park - Author: Johan Kloppers and the late Dr. G. Van Son - Published: 1978 - Page: 59

Butterflies of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Mark Williams - Published: 1994 - Page: 131

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