Chrysoritis azurius

Azure Opal
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species: C. azurius
Binomial name
Chrysoritis azurius
(Swanepoel, 1975)
Synonyms
  • Poecilmitis azurius Swanepoel, 1975

The Azure Opal (Chrysoritis azurius) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known from the Northern and Western Cape.

The wingspan is 32–36 mm for males and 35–40 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to December. There is one extended generation per year.[1]

The associated ant is unknown, but is suspected to be a Crematogaster species.[2]

References

  1. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
  2. Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Aphnaeini (part 2)
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