Chrysoritis pyroeis

Sand-dune opal
Set of C. p. hersaleki
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species: C. pyroeis
Binomial name
Chrysoritis pyroeis
(Trimen, 1864)[1]
Synonyms
  • Zeritis pyroeis Trimen, 1864
  • Poecilmitis pyroeis
  • Poecilmitis pyroeis hersaleki Dickson, 1970

Chrysoritis pyroeis, the sand-dune opal, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.

The wingspan is 22–31 mm for males and 25–38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to April with peaks from September to October and in February. There are several generations per year.

The larvae feed on Zygophyllum flexuosum and Thesium species. They are attended to by Myrmicaria nigra ants.[2]

Subspecies

References

  1. Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
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