Aloeides molomo

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Molomo copper
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Aloeides
Species:
A. molomo
Binomial name
Aloeides molomo
(Trimen, 1870) [2]
Synonyms
  • Zeritis molomoTrimen, 1870

Aloeides molomo, the molomo copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa.

Contents

Description

This species inhabits grassy areas with bare patches, such as grassy fynbos in the western and eastern cape, or highvield grasslands in other provinces. [3]

The wingspan is 22–33 mm (0.87–1.30 in) for males and 24–35 mm (0.94–1.38 in) for females. Adults are on wing from August to December and from March to April. There are two generations per year. [4] A. m. krooni specimens feature silver spots on the underside of its hindwing. [5]

Habitat and behavior

The males of Aloeidis exhibit territorial behavior, claiming specific areas on road verges and unsurfaced roads where they can counter females and mate. [6] Females have a slower flight than males. [5]

Life cycle

The female oviposits its eggs at the base of Gnidia plants. [7]

The larvae of A. m. krooni feed on Sida ovata .

Subspecies

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aphnaeinae</span> Subfamily of butterflies

The Aphnaeinae are a subfamily of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae.

<i>Aloeides</i> Butterfly genus in 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.

<i>Aloeides dentatis</i> Species of butterfly

Aloeides dentatis, the Roodepoort copper, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Lesotho and South Africa.

Aloeides nollothi, the Nolloth's copper, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Namibia and the Northern Cape province of South Africa.

<i>Tylopaedia</i> Monotypic butterfly genus in family Lycaenidae

Tylopaedia is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. It is monotypic containing only the species Tylopaedia sardonyx, the king copper, which is found in South Africa and Namibia.

<i>Stugeta bowkeri</i> Species of butterfly

Stugeta bowkeri, the Bowker's sapphire, Bowker's marbled sapphire or Bowker's tailed blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in most of southern 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.

<i>Aloeides pallida</i> Species of butterfly

Aloeides pallida, the giant copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa

<i>Aloeides simplex</i> Species of butterfly

Aloeides simplex, the dune copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from sandy areas in the Kalahari and arid savannah, the red dunes from Kuruman, Hotazel and further west in the Northern Cape.

<i>Aloeides penningtoni</i> Species of butterfly

Aloeides penningtoni, the Pennington's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the northern Eastern Cape and the Drakensberg foothills to the KwaZulu-Natal midlands and the Ngoye and Enseleni forests.

Aloeides dicksoni, the Dickson's copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the Eastern Cape Drakensberg.

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.

<i>Aloeides pierus</i> Species of butterfly

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.

<i>Aloeides trimeni</i> Species of butterfly

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.

<i>Aloeides damarensis</i> Species of butterfly

Aloeides damarensis, the Damara copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae from South Africa.

<i>Aloeides taikosama</i> Species of butterfly

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.

<i>Aloeides conradsi</i> Species of butterfly

Aloeides conradsi, the Conrad's copper, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi and Zambia. The habitat consists of savanna.

References

  1. Westrip, J.R.S. (2021). "Aloeides molomo". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T162639880A162639882. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T162639880A162639882.en . Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  2. Aloeides at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  3. Henning, G.A. (1993). "Revisional notes on the genus Aloeides Hübner". Metamorphosis. 4. The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 144–155.
  4. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.
  5. 1 2 Gardiner, A. (2004). "New species of Lepidochrysops Hedicke (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) from north-western Zambia" (PDF). Metamorphosis. 15 (4). The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa.
  6. Edge, David A. (2005). "Life history and ecological observations on Aloeides pallida, undescribed subspecies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)" (PDF). Metamorphosis. 16 (4). Journal of The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 110–115.
  7. Heath, A.; Gardiner, A. (2009). "Addendum to Heath et al., 2008: Oviposition behaviour and foodplant observations" (PDF). Metamorphosis. 20 (1). The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa.