pansy butterflies | watercolour

The Pansy Butterfly — especially the African Blue or Yellow Pansy — is one of the bushveld’s most eye-catching butterflies. With bold eye-spots, bright blues, oranges, and soft earthy tones, it flashes colour as it settles on sandy paths, warm rocks, or sunlit patches of grass. These “pansy” markings aren’t just beautiful — they’re a clever defence. The large eye-spots on the wings distract predators, drawing attention away from the vulnerable body and giving the butterfly a better chance to escape. Pansies are sun-lovers, often seen basking with wings open before flitting low across the ground to feed on nectar or search for mates. They’re common, resilient, and wonderfully expressive, adding a spark of movement and colour to the African bush wherever the light touches them.