Chrysoritis blencathrae

Chrysoritis blencathrae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species: C. blencathrae
Binomial name
Chrysoritis blencathrae
(Heath & Ball, 1992)[1]
Synonyms
  • Poecilmitis blencathrae Heath & Ball, 1992

The Waaihoek Opal (Chrysoritis blencathrae) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the peaks of the Waaihoek and Sybasberg in the West Cape.

The wingspan is 26–36 mm for males and 30–37 mm for females. Adults are on year from September to April, with peaks in October and February (for ssp. turneri) and December (for ssp. amatola).[2]

The larvae feed on Dimorphotheca venusta. They are attended to by Crematogaster ants.

References

  1. Chrysoritis, Site of Markku Savela
  2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
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