Chrysoritis aureus
| Heidelberg Copper | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Chrysoritis |
| Species: | C. aureus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysoritis aureus van Son, 1966 | |
| Synonyms | |
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The Heidelberg Copper or Golden Opal (Chrysoritis aureus) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane Grassland in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks in December and March.[1]
The larvae feed on Clutia pulchella species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.
References
- ↑ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
- Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. Poecilmitis aureus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.
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