Spotted Sailer

Afrikaans name: Spikkel-swerwer

isiZulu name: Itilosi Elimagqabhagqabha

isiXhosa name: UMatiloshe oMabalabala

Spotted Sailer

Photo © Steven Herbert

Neptis saclava marpessa

The Spotted Sailer has a wingspan of around 4.5 cm with females being a bit larger than males. The sexes have similar colouration. Their caterpillars are extremely well camouflaged. They are fairly small and are varying shades of brown, cream and green in colour. They have a number of thick spikes in various places on their bodies.

It is found from around Port Elizabeth, along the east coast and the northern and north-eastern portions of the country. It is also found in Gauteng and the North West Province.

The Spotted Sailer is mainly found in lowland forests and riverine forests.

Have you wondered how this, and related species, got their name of "sailer"? The reason is their sailing flight where they glide with wings wide open and only occasional wing flaps.

References and further reading

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 1st edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2005 - Page: 122

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2020 - Page: 126

Gardening for Butterflies - Author: Steve Woodhall & Lindsay Gray - Published: 2015 - Page: 92

Ivor Migdoll s Field Guide to the Butterflies of Southern Africa - Author: Ivor Migdoll - Published: 1987 - Page: 165

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Reader s Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 341

What s That Butterfly - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2008 - Page: 722

Familiar South African Butterflies - Author: Clive Quickelberge - Published: 1986 - Page: 25

Butterflies of the Kruger National Park - Author: Johan Kloppers and the late Dr. G. Van Son - Published: 1978 - Page: 78

Butterflies of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Mark Williams - Published: 1994 - Page: 90

For more info: The Virtual Museum

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