Aeropetes

Aeropetes is a captivating butterfly genus belonging to the Nymphalidae family, comprising a single species: Aeropetes tulbaghia, commonly known as the Table Mountain beauty or mountain pride. This exquisite butterfly is native to southern Africa, inhabiting regions in South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Zimbabwe.

Both male and female Aeropetes tulbaghia butterflies exhibit similar appearance, with males being slightly smaller. The males boast a wingspan of approximately 70-78 mm, while the females have a wingspan ranging from 75-90 mm.

These butterflies favor mountainous terrains, often found on rocky hillsides and in gullies. They typically rest on the shaded sides of rocks or near overhanging stream banks. The larvae feed on various species of Poaceae plants, while the adult butterflies are particularly attracted to red or orange flowers. Notably, they serve as crucial pollinators for the orchid *Disa uniflora*.

Aeropetes tulbaghia produces a single generation annually, with adults appearing during the austral summer months, from November to April, peaking in activity between December and March.

Their range is extensive, encompassing the fynbos biome of South Africa, segments of the Nama Karoo, and grassland areas in the Western and Northern Cape, Free State, and Gauteng provinces. They are also prevalent along the mountain ranges of the Great Escarpment and Eastern Highlands, including localities in the Western and Eastern Cape, Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and eastern Zimbabwe.