About Amauris niavius (Linnaeus, 1758)
Amauris niavius, commonly called the friar, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae. This species is found in forest habitats across tropical Africa. Males have a wingspan ranging from 80 to 85 mm, while females have a slightly smaller wingspan of 78 to 82 mm. Adult Amauris niavius are in flight year-round, with population peaks occurring in late summer and autumn. The larvae of this species feed on plants from multiple genera: Cynanchum (including the species C. medium, C. nigrum, and C. vincetoxicum), Gymnema (including G. sylvestre), Marsdenia, Secamone, Vincetoxicum (which has the synonym Tylophora), and Ipomoea. The larvae of the subspecies dominicanus specifically feed on Gymnema sylvestre.
