Dusky Acraea

Dusky Acraea

Acraea esebria

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
at uMkhuze Game Reserve

In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%

7 Verified sightings at uMkhuze Game Reserve From 2019 to 2026
68 In all 3 parks
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Dusky Acraea

Acraea esebria, the dusky acraea, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae from southern and eastern Africa. The wingspan is 45–55 mm for males and 53–60 mm for females. Males and females both show the same range of colouration.

The dusky acraea is a variable species, but the most common form is black with a white band across the forewing and a white patch on the lower forewing and on the hindwing. There are a number of described morphs (with white, yellow or orange patches) including:

f. ertli f. esebria f. protea (black with creamy-yellow patches) f. monteironis (black with white patches) f. jacksoni The numerous forms of A. esebria differ especially in the colour of the light markings, in the breadth of the subapical band and the hindmarginal spot of the forewing and in the development of the dark marginal band on the upperside of the hindwing. According to Trimen the larva is light ochre-brown; each segment in the middle with a black transverse streak edged with light yellow; head black; spines black, only the lateral spines on segments 5-11 yellow; lives on species of the genus Fleurya. Pupa white with slightly yellowish tone and... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 uMkhuze Game Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
2 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
3 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Durban 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Dusky Acraea in uMkhuze Game Reserve?

Possible

About 20% of wildlife watchers report a Dusky Acraea sighting in uMkhuze Game Reserve on a given day, based on 7 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 33rd most-seen of the 59 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Dusky Acraea in uMkhuze Game Reserve?

May

In that month about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Dusky Acraea in uMkhuze Game Reserve on a given day, against under 5% in March and June–January, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Dusky Acraea?

Between 10 am and 1 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Dusky Acraea sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is uMkhuze Game Reserve the best place to see a Dusky Acraea?

Yes

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Dusky Acraea sightings, uMkhuze Game Reserve has the highest daily chance: about 20%. Next come iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa, about 10%) and Kruger National Park (South Africa, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Dusky Acraea live in uMkhuze Game Reserve?

Same genus: Acraea

The closest relatives of the Dusky Acraea that you can see in uMkhuze Game Reserve (genus Acraea, Acraeas) are Dancing Amber (about 20%) and Whitebar Acraea (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Dusky Acraea sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Dusky Acraea is recorded against all the insects logged in uMkhuze Game Reserve (7 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.

← Back to uMkhuze Game Reserve