type-form. f. sganzini Bdv. (56 e). Markings as in the type-form, but ground-colour straw-yellow to clay-yellow and marginal streaks on the underside of the hindwing usually black; marginal band on the upperside of the hind wing often widened and not sharply defined. Occurs especially on Madagascar. f. lycia F. (56 e) is very similar to f. sganzini, but has a white or whitish ground colour; occasionally the basal half of the fore wing is smoky black-grey on both surfaces and on the upperside only a little lighter than the apical half, ab. fumosa ab. nov. A specimen with 3 black dots in the cell of the hindwing was named ascrepticia (!) by Strand. [A. encedana Pierre, 1976 morph] The following forms differ from the preceding in having the apical half of the forewing above not or scarcely darker than the basal half, with distinct black discal dots. f. necoda Hew. (56 e). [now species Acraea necoda] Ground-colour of both wings light grey; forewing with whitish subapical band. f. daira Godm. and Salv [A. encedana Pierre, 1976 morph]. Ground-colour of both wings light brown-yellow; the subapical band of the fore wing absent or only indicated by light yellowish spots. f. radiata Auriv. [A. encedana Pierre, 1976 morph] only differs from daira in having the extremities of the veins above broadly and triangularly edged with black and the posterior half of the hindwing whitish. Adamaua. Larva slate-black with yellow lateral line, small white and yellow dorsal spots edged with black, and black spines; head black. Pupa white with the usual black markings. The larva lives on Commelina. The agreement in colour and markings between the forms of Acraea encedon and those of the much larger Danaus chrysippus and D. dorippus is very remarkable. Compare A. encedon and D. chrysippus, A. alcippina and D. alcippus, A. daira and D. dorippus, A. radiata and D. dorippus ab. albinus. Distribution There are two subspecies: Acraea encedon encedon is found in Africa south of the Sahara and in Madagascar. In South Africa this species is absent from the dry western parts of the country, but common in KwaZulu-Natal coastal areas on the eastern side of the country. Acraea encedon rathjensi Le Doux, 1933 is found in south-western Arabia. Life cycle The eggs are oval in shape. The larvae feed on Commelina species, such as C. diffusa. The flight period of the adults is all year, but