About Tirumala petiverana (Doubleday)
Tirumala petiverana, commonly known as the blue monarch, is a butterfly species that belongs to the Nymphalidae family. This butterfly has a wide distribution across tropical and subtropical regions of Sub-Saharan Africa. It can be found in a variety of habitats, including Afromontane forests, lowland forests, riverine forests, and moist savanna. The wingspan of adult Tirumala petiverana ranges from 60 to 75 mm. This species produces one generation per year. In Zimbabwe, adult blue monarchs are in flight from February to May, with the highest population peaks occurring in April. The larvae of Tirumala petiverana feed on the plant species Pergularia extensa, Pergularia daemia, Daemia, Hoya, and Marsdenia rubicunda.
