Mimacraea marshalli

Description

Mimacraea marshalli, Marshall's acraea mimic, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of Brachystegia woodland in hilly country at altitudes ranging from 1,200 to 1,700 metres, as well as open woodland. Adults feed from the secretions of scale insects (Coccoidea species). They were noted to stroke the insects with their antennae while feeding from their secretions. Adults are on wing from October to May. The larvae feed on dark, blue-green (or black) algae (cyanobacteria) growing on tree trunks. They are brown, densely hairy and very mobile.