Whilst birding at the village at
the bottom of the Raydah Escarpment I came across a number of African Joker Byblia
ilithyi. They are also commonly known as the Spotted joker or Joker, and
are a species of nymphalid butterfly found in parts of Africa, Arabia and Asia. The male has the upperwings of a deep rich orange. The forewing has
the costa broadly black until nearly the apex. The cell has three narrow short
black bands, the inner and outer not reaching the median vein. A postdiscal
broad transverse black band from dorsum to vein 4, with the portions of the
veins beyond it defined in black. The apex of the wing beyond the broad black
edging to the costal border has its upper margin and the terminal portions of
the veins defined in black; finally a narrow terminal band. The hind-wing has
an elongate black sub-costal patch near base, continued posteriorly across the
cell by an inner and an outer series of small transverse spots; a complete
broad black postdiscal band with the portions of the veins beyond it lined with
black, and a narrow black terminal band as on the forewing. Cilia of fore and
hind wings white, alternated with brown (from Wikipedia).
