Chrysoritis aethon

Chrysoritis aethon
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species: C. aethon
Binomial name
Chrysoritis aethon
(Trimen, 1887)[1]
Synonyms
  • Zeritis aethon Trimen, 1887
  • Poecilimitis aethon

The Lydenburg Opal (Chrysoritis aethon) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, along the Drakensberg escarpment to Mariepskop in the Limpopo Province.

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April, with peaks in November and February. There are several generations per year.[2]

The larvae feed on Rhus zeyheri and Diospyros species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei 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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