| Aloeides depicta | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Aloeides |
| Species: | A. depicta |
| Binomial name | |
| Aloeides depicta Tite & Dickson, 1968 [2] | |
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.
The wingspan is 26–29 mm (1.0–1.1 in) for males and 29–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) females. Adults are on wing from September to June. There are continuous generations in warmer months. [3]
The hindwing of A. depicta is mostly convex. Physical traits resemble those of A. apicalis and A. margaretae.
These butterflies inhabit grassy areas with bare patches, such as grassy fynbos in the eastern cape, or highvield grasslands in other provinces. [4]
Males on this genus exhibit territorial behavior, claiming specific unsurfaced areas where they can counter females and mate. [5]
Variation among larvae within the same colony is noted. The final instar larvae measure around 16mm. The head region is black, with a Y-shaped pale stripe down the centre above mandible, and small yellow patches on each side of it. Larval body contains 11 segments. [6]
The first segment of the larval body has a dark plate which lightens towards the edges, ending on a dark mark on the outer edge. A pair of faintly red marked spiracles are found on each side of the plate. The body is blue-green in color and a red double stripe runs down the middle of the back of first segment to the last. They are covered with bold black setae that grow longer towards the rear and under spiracles.
The last (eleventh) segment has a flattened appearance, featuring white-centered black tubercles that have non-spiny hairs. This segment contains irregular reddish black markings. There is an absence of honey glands in A. depicta larvae. Final segment of A. depicta larvae is pale blue in color. These are relatively shorter than other species for example A. margaretae, due to not being reared by ants. [7]
The larvae feed on Aspalathus species. They shelter under rocks close to their host plant. The ant species noted as host for these are Lepisiota capensis. [8] [9]
The Aphnaeinae are a subfamily of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae.
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 carolynnae, Carolynn's copper, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
Aloeides pringlei, the Pringle's copper, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is only found in a few localities in grassland of the Eastern Cape near the Great Winterberg.
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.
Dickson's copper or Dickson's strandveld copper is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is only known inland from Witsand in a single spot in fynbos. Previously, it was also found north of Cape Town. It is sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Oxychaeta.
Thestor brachycerus, the Knysna skolly, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
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 titei, the Tite's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the northern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg foothills to the hills of southern Mpumalanga.
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 clarki, the Coega copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from low slopes and ridges in coastal Karoo flats in the Eastern Cape and flat rocky land further inland.
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 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 damarensis, the Damara 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 provinces.
Aloeides molomo, the molomo copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa.
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.
Chrysoritis thysbe, the opal copper or common opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.
