Capys penningtoni

Capys penningtoni
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Capys
Species:	C. penningtoni
Binomial name
Capys penningtoni Riley, 1932

Capys penningtoni, the Pennington's protea, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is restricted to the KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg foothills.

The wingspan is 32–40 mm for males and 34–47 mm for females. Adults are on wing from mid-September to early November. There is one generation per year. ^[2]

The larvae feed on the flower buds of Protea afra and Protea simplex .

References

1. Armstrong, A.J. (2020). "Capys penningtoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T3844A168300190. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T3844A168300190.en . Retrieved 16 November 2021.
2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.