Cymothoe alcimeda, the battling glider, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The wingspan is 40âÂÂ50 mm for males and 45âÂÂ55 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, but mainly in summer from October onwards. Peaks occur in November and from February to April.
The larvae feed on Kiggelaria africana.
Subspecies
- Cymothoe alcimeda alcimeda (Western Cape to Knysna)
- Cymothoe alcimeda trimeni <small>Aurivillius, 1912</small> (Eastern Cape along Drakensberg escarpment to KwaZulu-Natal midlands)
- Cymothoe alcimeda clarki <small>Stevenson, 1940</small> (Amatola range of Eastern Cape)
- Cymothoe alcimeda rhodesiae <small>Stevenson, 1934</small> (eastern Zimbabwe (Vumba Mountains))
- Cymothoe alcimeda marieps <small>Rydon, 1994</small> (south of Olifants River from Mariepskop to Barberton in Mpumalanga)
- Cymothoe alcimeda transvaalica <small>Rydon, 1994</small> (Limpopo Province escarpment)
References