The eggs are laid in masses; the larvae are rather short, of almost equal thickness throughout, and possessing branched spines on each segment, young larvae group together on a protecting mass of silk; the pupa is slender, with a long abdomen, rather wide and angulated about the insertion of the wings, and suspended by the tail only.
A. horta, A. cabira, and A. terpsicore illustrate typical life histories.

The food plants of Acraea caterpillars are usually Urticaceae or, like in most Heliconiinae, Passifloraceae.
Some feed on other plants, such as Fabaceae, "Flacourtiaceae", or Violaceae.
Their preferred species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which make the larvae and adults poisonous to predators.
The aposematic coloration of the adults announces this, and some species are mimicked by less noxious butterflies.
At least some "Acraea" are able to produce the toxins themselves.
Their flight is slow and flapping.
The eggs are laid in masses; the larvae are rather short, of almost equal thickness throughout, and possessing branched spines on each segment, young larvae group together on a protecting mass of silk; the pupa is slender, with a long abdomen, rather wide and angulated about the insertion of the wings, and suspended by the tail only. A. horta, A. cabira, and A. terpsicore illustrate typical life histories.
The food plants of Acraea caterpillars are usually Urticaceae or, like in most Heliconiinae, Passifloraceae. Some feed on other plants, such as Fabaceae, "Flacourtiaceae", or Violaceae. Their preferred species contain cyanogenic glycosides, which make the larvae and adults poisonous to predators. The aposematic coloration of the adults announces this, and some species are mimicked by less noxious butterflies. At least some "Acraea" are able to produce the toxins themselves. Their flight is slow and flapping.
Acraea (butterfly)