| Roodepoort copper | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Aloeides |
| Species: | A. dentatis |
| Binomial name | |
| Aloeides dentatis (Swierstra, 1909) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Aloeides dentatis, the Roodepoort copper, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Lesotho and South Africa.
This butterfly inhabits grassy areas with bare patches, such as grassy fynbos in the western and eastern cape, or highvield grasslands in other provinces. [2]
The wingspan is 22–26 mm for males and 24–28 mm females. Adults are on wing from August to November and from February to March. There are two generations per year. [3] There is a submarginal silvery band on the underside of hindwing, extending from costa to the inner margin. [4]
The males of Aloeidis exhibit territorial behavior, claiming specific areas on road verges and unsurfaced roads where they can counter females and mate. [5]
The larvae of the nominate subspecies feed on Hermannia depressa and Lotononis eriantha . Larvae of subspecies A. d. maseruna feed on Hermannia jacobeifolia . The larvae are attended to by Lepisiota capensis ants. [1]
A. dentatis are noted to secrete chemicals from their perforated cupolas, that mimic the brood pheromones of the host ants, allowing them blend in with the colony. To avoid being attacked, the glands near tubercles produce a second secretion that mimics the 'alarm pheromones' of these ants. [6]
Aloeides, commonly called coppers, is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. Most can be found in South Africa, but a few species occur as far north as Kenya.
Aloeides rossouwi, the Rossouw's copper, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in Mpumalanga south of the Stoffberg.
Erikssonia edgei, commonly known as the Waterberg copper, tilodi copper or Edge's acraea copper, is an obligate myrmecophylous lycaenid butterfly, which is native to Limpopo, South Africa. The critically endangered butterfly occurs in high-altitude grasslands on sandy substrates, and has only been obtained from the type and one subsequent locality. The population at the type locality, a farm in the Waterberg, went extinct about 12 years after its 1980 discovery. It was afforded species status in 2010, when no extant populations were known. The status of two populations, discovered in 2013 at a private nature reserve to the southeast, remains indeterminate.
Aloeides rileyi, commonly known as Riley's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from Lesotho and the eastern part of the Free State.
Aloeides pallida, the giant copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa
Aloeides braueri, the Brauer's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from highland hillsides covered in sour grassveld in the Eastern Cape.
Aloeides dryas, the Transvaal copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa, where it is known from northern KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini and Mpumalanga, and along the Drakensberg to the Wolkberg range in Limpopo province.
Aloeides caffrariae, the border copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from coastal grassland in the Eastern Cape.
Aloeides margaretae, the Marguarite's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the western coast and along the south coast in the Western Cape.
Aloeides apicalis, the pointed copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from Western Cape and the Northern Cape.
Aloeides depicta, the depicta copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from fynbos and Nama Karoo along the mountains from Matjiesfontein to Gydo Mountain and the Eastern Cape.
Aloeides gowani, the Gowan's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the Western, Eastern and the Northern Cape.
Aloeides arida, the arid copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the northern Western Cape to Springbok and Steinkopf in the Northern Cape.
Aloeides aranda, the Aranda copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the whole of South Africa, except in high montane forests and arid western areas. It is also found in Zimbabwe.
Aloeides henningi, the Henning's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found from the northern Eastern Cape to Lesotho, western KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng.
Aloeides pierus, the dull copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found in the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape, as well as the Free State.
Aloeides maluti, the Maluti copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is mainly found in the high altitude alpine grassland of Lesotho, but also in neighbouring hills of the Free State and Eastern Cape provinces, South Africa.
Aloeides trimeni, the Trimen's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found from coastal KwaZulu-Natal to the Drakensberg, north into Mpumalanga and Limpopo.
Aloeides taikosama, the dusky copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In South Africa it is found from the eastern Western Cape to the Eastern Cape, the Free State, northern KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and the eastern Northern Cape.
Aloeides barklyi, the Barkly's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found in the Northern Cape, south to the Western Cape, the Cederberg and the Name Karoo at Matjiesfontein.
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