Alaena nyassa

Alaena nyassa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Alaena
Species: A. nyassa
Binomial name
Alaena nyassa
Hewitson, 1877[1]
Synonyms
  • Alaena major Oberthür, 1888

Alaena nyassa, the Pied Zulu, is a butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.[2] The habitat consists of riverine woodland, grassy places in savanna regions, montane grassland with rocky outcrops, forest margins, heavy woodland and rocky streams.

Adults have been recorded nearly year round, except June and July.

The larvae feed on algae (Cyanophyta) growing on rocks.

Subspecies

References

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