About Gomalia elma (Trimen, 1862)
Gomalia elma (Trimen, 1862) is a butterfly species described as follows. Males: the upperside of the wings has a brownish-olive-grey base ground colour. On the forewing, there is a basal blackish-brown band and an ante-medial darker band. The outer margin of the ante-medial darker band is defined by a thick black line that curves outward from the sub-costal vein to the sub-median vein. The part of this band that crosses the cell is edged outward by a white lunular mark that closes the end of the cell. There is a white spot at the base of the second median interspace, and another nearly touching it, positioned inward and below it in the first median interspace. A large square blackish-brown patch is located on the costa, bounded outward by three conjoined white sub-apical spots. A similar but smaller patch sits at the apex, a larger similar patch sits in the middle of the outer margin, and a small narrow patch sits at the hinder angle. The hindwing is darker than the forewing, with a white middle band running from the sub-costal vein to the abdominal fold. The inner portion of the wing, from this band to the base, is black and contains a white sub-basal spot. A black band that narrows toward the top is attached to the lower portion of the white band, and there is also a blackish, spotted marginal band. The cilia of both wings are grey, with brown markings in some areas. The underside of the wings is grey. On the forewing, there is a darker ante-medial outward-curved band that is darker than the ground colour, a mixed white and grey mark at the end of the cell, a broader grey discal band that curves further outward, and a grey band covering the lower two-thirds of the margin. Antennae are blackish, with the underside of the shaft being greyish-white. Palpi, the underside of the body, and legs are grey, matching the colour of the wings. Palpi, the head, and the upper side of the body are brownish-olive. The abdomen has thin whitish bands at each segment. Females are similar in appearance to males and are usually larger. Male wingspan measures 26–31 mm, while female wingspan measures 29–36 mm. In Africa, Gomalia elma is found in South Africa (the Cape region and Free State), Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and other regions across the continent. In Asia, it ranges across Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka, Pakistan (Baluchistan), and India. Known food plants for this species are Abutilon indicum, Abutilon sonneratianum, Abutilon pannosum, and Abutilon fruticosum.
