Chrysoritis pyroeis

Chrysoritis pyroeis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species: C. pyroeis
Binomial name
Chrysoritis pyroeis
(Trimen, 1864)[1]
Synonyms
  • Zeritis pyroeis Trimen, 1864

The Sand-dune Opal (Chrysoritis pyroeis) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.

The wingspan is 22-31 mm for males and 25-38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to April, with peaks from September to October and in February. There are several generations per year.[2]

The larvae feed on Zygophyllum flexuosum and Thesium species. They are attended to by Myrmecaria nigra ants.

Subspecies

References

  1. ^ Chrysoritis, Site of Markku Savela
  2. ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.