"Acraea serena: The Dancing Jewel of African Skies"

"On my way to the grocery store, I stumbled upon this stunning piece of nature. I couldn’t resist stopping to capture the moment and share it with all #photographylovers. Meet the beautiful Acraea serena!"
Acraea serena, commonly known as the dancing acraea or serene acraea, is a beautiful butterfly species found primarily in sub-Saharan Africa. Here's an overview of this butterfly.

Acraea serena Overview
Scientific name: Acraea serena
Common names: Dancing Acraea, Serene Acraea
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed butterflies)
Subfamily: Heliconiinae

Distribution & Habitat
Acraea serena is widespread across:
West, East, and Southern Africa
Frequently seen in open woodlands, savannas, and grasslands

Identification
Wings: Orange to light reddish-orange with black spots and margins
Underside: Lighter, often creamy or pale with subtle spots
Wingspan: ~40–50 mm
Its pattern closely resembles other Acraea species — useful for camouflage and mimicry.

Larval Food Plants
The caterpillars (larvae) of Acraea serena feed on plants primarily in the Passifloraceae and Urticaceae families, including:
Passiflora species (passion vines)
Adenia species

Behavior
Known for its fluttery, graceful flight — hence the name “dancing acraea.”
Often seen basking with wings open in the sun.
Adults feed on nectar from various flowering plants.

Interesting Facts
Part of a mimicry complex — it resembles other toxic Acraea butterflies to deter predators.
Plays a role in pollination due to its constant nectar feeding.

Picture : Photography
Category : Butterfly
Camera use : Handphone
Model : Redmi14C
Photographer : @ubglo17
Location : Idu Uruan ,Uruan LGA,Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.
Zip Code : 520105
Link to community : Community