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The Mauritius butterfly fauna presents huge interest because there are 10 nearly extinct, extinct and casual that can be seen by visitors. About 35 species of Mauritius butterfly are on the checklist, with 25 being common. Because of the island’s oceanic origin, small size as well as the distance from the closest potential introduction source, the Mauritius butterfly fauna is limited. In 1989, 37 species were recorded on island, 10 of them being non-resident, rare or extinct.
The rest of them are seen as common widespread to specific habitats. Of these 37 Mauritius butterfly species, 22 can be seen in Africa and other places, 7 can be seen in Mauritius and on the rest of the Mascarene Islands and 8 are restricted to the Indian Ocean’s Western islands.
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From the Mauritius butterfly endemic species we mention Libythea cinyras Trimen, which is extinct, and Salamis Augustina Vinsoni Le Cerf and Antanartia Borbonica Mauritiana Maders, two endemic subspecies considered to be in danger. The first mentioned one is also known as the Mauritius Mother of Pearl Butterfly. The endemic species living on the Mauritius neighbouring died out according to the last sources, the Obetia Ficifolia (Wood Nettle) larval host plants disappearing from Mauritius. Among the Mauritius butterfly species we mention: Libythea Cinyras, Cyclyrius Mandersi (extinct one), Neptis Frobenia, Amauris Phoedon and Papilio Manlius. One of the Mauritius butterfly is Fabricius (Catopsilia Fiorella), a migrant from Africa, seen on the island’s South-West only between the Black River Gorges National Park and La Preneuse’s township. Some specimens were seen and photographed on the Veronia Cinerea flowers close to the national park’s boundary.
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Trimen (Zizeeria Knysa) is another Mauritius butterfly also known as the African Grass Blue Z and seen also in the Southern Europe and Africa. It can be seen on Mauritius, Madagascar, Rodrigues, Reunion. On Mauritius it was seen on the road connecting La Preneuse to Black River Gorges National Park. Another Mauritius butterfly is Linnaeus (Leptotes Pirithous), a small lycaenid common to this island.
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You can see it flying all the year and it was photographed on the Veronia Cinerea flower on the Black River Gorges National Park’s boundary. They were in a group along with the Amaria Phoedon and Phalanta Phalantha. The Leptomyrina Phidias Mauritius butterfly was also seen at the River Gorges National Park.
It was photographed on the understorey plants’ foliage in the lowland semi-natural forest. The butterfly is a recent immigrant to the island, probably with the succulent material from Madagascar or from the Comoro Islands. The Mauritius butterfly breeds on the Kalanchoe species, planted in the island’s gardens. Petrelaea Reticulatum is a species collected first by Thierry d’Unienville, in 1989, at Saint Antoine. Established on Mauritius it breeds on the Terminallia flower. They are often seen feeding at this flower.
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The most recent Mauritius butterfly species that arrived on the island is the Chilades Pandava (Cycad Blue), first recorded on the island in 2000, according to the information offered by Owen Griffiths.
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