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Bush Scarlet
Insects diurnal

Bush Scarlet

Axiocerses amanga

A gem of the African bushveld, the Bush Scarlet dazzles with its fiery orange wings and intricate silver-spotted camouflage. This small but bold butterfly is a master of the 'hide and seek' game, shifting from brilliant red to dull brown in the blink of an eye.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Wingspan of 24–30 mm (0.94–1.18 inches)

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Colors

Upperside is a brilliant scarlet-red with broad black borders; underside is a complex mosaic of reddish-brown, white, and silver spots

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Key Features

  • Vibrant scarlet-orange upperside wings
  • Small, delicate tails on the hindwings
  • Intricate silver-flecked 'marbled' pattern on the wing undersides
  • Fast, jerky, and erratic flight pattern

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal
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Peak hours 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
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Season Year-round, with population peaks in Spring (October-November) and late Summer (March-May)
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Diet Adults feed on the nectar of flowering trees and shrubs, particularly Acacia and Senegalia species. Larvae feed on the leaves of the same host trees.
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Habitat Wooded savannas, dry thornveld, and suburban gardens with indigenous host trees

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Behavior

The Bush Scarlet is a territorial and active butterfly often seen darting between sunlit perches in wooded savannas. Males are particularly known for 'hilltopping' or choosing prominent twigs as lookout posts, where they aggressively defend their space against other males while waiting for females to pass by.

During the hottest parts of the day, they frequently visit damp patches of earth or mud puddles to drink. This behavior, known as 'puddling,' allows them to absorb essential minerals and salts. When they land, they often snap their wings shut instantly, disappearing against the bark of a tree thanks to the cryptic, leaf-like camouflage of their undersides.

They have a fascinating symbiotic relationship with ants during their larval stage. The caterpillars produce sugary secretions that ants crave; in exchange, the ants provide protection from small predators and parasites. This makes the presence of certain ant colonies a great indicator that Bush Scarlets are nearby.

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Camera Tips

To capture the brilliant scarlet of this butterfly, you need to prioritize high-shutter speeds and direct sunlight. The Bush Scarlet is most active when the sun is at its peak, so position your camera facing a flowering shrub—like an Acacia or a Buddleja—with the sun behind the camera lens to illuminate the wings fully. Because they are small and move quickly, use a 'Macro' or 'Close-up' setting if your camera allows it, focusing on a specific cluster of nectar-rich flowers.

Placement is key: look for 'lookout twigs' that stick out from the main body of a bush. Males often return to the exact same perch repeatedly after chasing off an intruder. If you spot a butterfly returning to a specific leaf or twig, mount your camera 12–18 inches away from that spot. Using a tripod or a flexible clamp-mount on a nearby branch will help you get a stabilized, sharp shot without scaring the insect away.

Another excellent strategy is to create a 'puddling station.' Place a flat, shallow tray with damp sand and a pinch of sea salt or a few drops of manure tea in a sunny spot on the ground. The Bush Scarlet will often spend several minutes stationary while feeding on the minerals, providing a perfect window for a high-resolution capture. Ensure your camera is angled low to the ground to capture the side profile, which showcases the stunning silver-spotted underside of their wings.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Bush Scarlet.

Common Scarlet

The Common Scarlet lacks the silver-white underside spots and typically has a darker, more muted red on the upperside.

Saffron Sapphire

While also small and bright, the Saffron Sapphire features distinct blue or purple iridescent patches on the upperside which the Bush Scarlet lacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Bush Scarlet is most active during the warmest hours of the day, typically between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM, when the sun is brightest and they have enough thermal energy for their fast flight.
Plant indigenous host trees such as the Sweet Thorn (Acacia karroo) or Umbrella Thorn. Providing a 'puddling' spot with damp, mineral-rich soil will also draw them down from the canopy to ground level.
Adults drink nectar from various flowers, especially those of the Acacia family. As caterpillars, they feed exclusively on the leaves of specific leguminous trees like Senegalia and Acacia.
Yes, they are quite common in suburban gardens across Sub-Saharan Africa, provided there are enough native trees and shrubs to support their lifecycle.
The Bush Scarlet (A. amanga) has very distinct silver-white spots on the underside of its wings, whereas the Common Scarlet (A. tjoane) has a more uniform, reddish-brown marbled underside without the bright silver flecks.

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