Vanessa hippomene (southern short-tailed admiral) is a butterfly of the Nymphalidae family. It is found in South Africa and Madagascar.

Wingspan is 45–45 mm in males and 42–48 mm in females. Has two or three flight periods with peak between April and May.

The larvae feed on Fleurya capensis, Laportia peduncularis, Pouzolia parasitica, Didymodoxa caffra and Urtica species.

This species was traditionally considered to be a member of the genus Antanartia, but recent molecular analyses reveals that it is more closely related to members of the genus Vanessa

Subspecies

V. h. hippomene (Swaziland, South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province, Western Cape Province to the south-east)
V. h. madegassorum (Aurivillius, 1899) (Madagascar: plateau)

source - Wikipedia