Whilst birding at the village at the
bottom of the Raydah Escarpment in December 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).
