Bicolored Skipper
RARE: Bicoloured Skipper Abantis bicolor (Hesperiidae: Pyrginae) was discovered in 1863, by Colonel Bowker on the Mbashe River, Eastern Cape, in 1863. It used to be found near Durban - a good locality being the University of KZN on the edge of Palmiet Nature Reserve. But is has slowly disappeared from its Durban haunts, probably due to pressure of urbanisation.
It is still fairly easy to find at Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, and Ongoye Forest in Zululand. A colony was recently discovered near Lower Illovo.
It is an extremely shy, fast flying canopy dweller so it may escape attention. Occasionally both sexes may be found on flowers. The foodplant is unknown and its identification is vital to conservation of the butterfly.
Conservation
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