Protogoniomorpha parhassus
In 3 days ~50% in a week ~80%
Protogoniomorpha parhassus, the forest mother-of-pearl or common mother-of-pearl, is a species of Nymphalidae butterfly found in forested areas of Africa. P. p. parhassus, the forest mother-of-pearl, from Tropical Africa
The male and female are similar in colour and pattern. The base colour of the upper surface of the wings is greenish white with a violet sheen in the wet-season form, and pearly white in the dry-season form. The forewing has a black-tipped, hooked apex. The wings have a few red eyespots which are ringed with black. There are black spots near the margins of both the forewings and hindwings. The underside of the wings has a greenish-white base colour, with eyespots corresponding to those on the upper surface.
This species lays tiny eggs similar to those of Junonia and Precis species. The larvae are similar to those of Junonia and Precis species, but larger. They feed on Asystasia... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arusha National Park | 🇹🇿 Tanzania | |
| 2 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
Possible
About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Common Mother-Of-Pearl sighting in Arusha National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 7th most-seen of the 13 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 50%, and over a week to about 80%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March
In that month about 40% of wildlife watchers report a Common Mother-Of-Pearl in Arusha National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April–July, September and December–February, the lowest months.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Mother-Of-Pearl sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Common Mother-Of-Pearl sightings, Arusha National Park has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa, about 10%).
Same family: Nymphalidae
The closest relatives of the Common Mother-Of-Pearl that you can see in Arusha National Park (family Nymphalidae, Brush-footed Butterflies) are Soldier Commodore (about 40%), Dark Blue Pansy (about 30%) and Plain Tiger Butterfly (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Mother-Of-Pearl is recorded against all the insects logged in Arusha National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
