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Woolly-legs

Lachnocnema bibulus

Photo by Tiz
Published on Project Noah
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-21.9978, 35.3169

Field Notes

Description:

Size 4th picture.

Habitat:

Shrub terrain, semi-urban, air-strip.

Notes:

The butterfly feeds on the honeydew secreted by Plant Lice, for example Aphids. To get this honeydew it strokes the aphid with its woolly legs which stimulates the insect to exude honeydew. The larvae are carnivorous, feeding on plant lice. (Thank you Faredin for this information)
This spotting can also be an example of the Southern pied woolly leg (lachnocnema laches).

Here is a link to a Southern Pied Woolly Legs feeding on plant bug honeydew with a gang of ants, 7th picture from the top: http://photocamel.com/forum/macro-close-up-photography/43599-zululand-b…

Species ID Suggestions

Common woolly legs

Lachnocnema bibulus

Reference Link
FaredinAliyevski
1

Comments (11)
Tiz
Ah, well lets leave it like this, and I will add the info about the Southern Pied Woolly Legs, Lachnocnema laches in the spotting info :)
FaredinAliyevski
Those 2 species look similar like hell and there are not many photos to compare them. Before I suggested you the ID I did compare these two for a long time but my suggestion has darker color which fits with yours and the one you suggested has lighter color but I could be wrong. There is only one other spotting of this genus on PN and it's the one you suggested: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/14820064
Tiz
Fare, are you sure it is not a Southern Pied Woolly Legs, Lachnocnema laches?
Tiz
Thank you RiekoS :D Faredin, fantastic information and your theory about the furry legs sounds very likely! So in other words, their feeding behaviour is more similar to some species of ladybugs and ants than butterflies... cool!
RiekoS
Beautiful series. Like Sckel said, I love the legs...
FaredinAliyevski
Actually this is not like the usual butterflies. They don't feed on pollen or nectar so they have no role in the pollination. Interestingly the larvae are carnivorous, feeding on plant lice and the adults feed on the honeydew of the plant lice. I have never found any explanation about the woolly legs but one theory is that it's protection against the ant attacks because the aphids are protected by ants and when this butterfly needs to feed it gets attacked by the ants. Too bad there is not much information about this genus, so didn't find any link with information to give you but maybe there is someone here that knows more about them.
Tiz
Thank you Faredin!!! I think you did it again... It is interesting to see how the female (I think) is a bit less furry and smaller in size. Do you have any idea why they have all these hairs? Pollinating? Thank you Marta, for your words :)
FaredinAliyevski
These are cool, i love them but are rare here in PN. Simply it looks like mixture of butterfly and moth :)
Tiz
I am sure you have something hairy over there :D They are indeed very "fluffy", and as soon we have a name of it we can try to find out if you have it over there :)
Sckel
I loved these hairy legs Mo'nique style. I am wanting so badly to see this wonderful species, will have in my area?

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Butterflies & Moths of the World
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Wild Love
Photographed
PublishedAugust 25, 2013

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