Iolaus diametra

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Iolaus diametra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Iolaus
Species: I. diametra
Binomial name
Iolaus diametra
(Karsch, 1895)[1]
Synonyms
  • Epamera diametra Karsch, 1895
  • Epamera diametra littoralis Congdon & Collins, 1998
  • Epamera diametra zanzibarensis Congdon & Collins, 1998

The Natal Yellow-banded Sapphire (Iolaus diametra) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in Africa, roughly from South Africa to Ethiopia.

The wingspan is 26–28 mm for males and 27–29 mm for females. Adults are on wing from July to December with a peak in October in South Africa. There is one generation per year.[2]

The larvae of ssp. natalica feed on Actinanthella wylliei. Other recorded foodplants are Oliverella hildebrandtii and Englerina woodfordioides.[3]

Subspecies

  • Iolaus diametra diametra (northern Tanzania, eastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia)
  • Iolaus diametra natalica Vári, 1976 (northern KwaZulu-Natal)
  • Iolaus diametra littoralis (Congdon & Collins, 1998) (coast of Kenya, coast of Tanzania)
  • Iolaus diametra zanzibarensis (Congdon & Collins, 1998) (Tanzania: Zanzibar)

References

  1. Iolaus, Site of Markku Savela
  2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
  3. Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Subtribe Iolaina

External links


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