Chrysoritis lycegenes

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Chrysoritis lycegenes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species:
C. lycegenes
Binomial name
Chrysoritis lycegenes
(Trimen, 1874)[2]
Synonyms
  • Zeritis lycegenes Trimen, 1874
  • Poecilmitis lycegenes

Chrysoritis lycegenes, the Mooi River opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, along the Drakensberg escarpment to Mariepskop in Limpopo province.

The wingspan is 21โ€“24 mm for males and 23โ€“26 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to October and from December to January. There are two generations per year.[3]

The larvae feed on Diospyros austro-africana, Diospyros lycioides, Myrsine africa, Rhus species and Chrysanthemoides monilifera. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.

It is named after the Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal.

References

  1. ^ Cockburn, K.N.A. (2020) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Chrysoritis lycegenes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161336856A175071591. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161336856A175071591.en. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
  2. ^ Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  3. ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.