| Poecilmitis orientalis | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Poecilmitis |
| Species: | P. orientalis |
| Binomial name | |
| Poecilmitis orientalis Swanepoel, 1976 |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
|
The Eastern Opal (Poecilmitis orientalis) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal.
The wingspan is 18-22 mm for males and 20-24 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to January, with a peak in December. There is one generation per year.[1]
The larvae feed on Thesium species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.