Chrysoritis chrysaor

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Golden copper
Chrysoritis chrysaor, J Dobson, a.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species:
C. chrysaor
Binomial name
Chrysoritis chrysaor
(Trimen, 1864) [1]
Synonyms
  • Zeritis chrysaorTrimen, 1864
  • Poecilmitis chrysaor
  • Poecilmitis lyciaRiley, 1938

Chrysoritis chrysaor, the golden copper or burnished opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is widespread in the east.

The wingspan is 22–27 mm for males and 23–30 mm for females. Adults are on the wing year-round with peaks in November and February at high altitudes. [2]

The larvae feed on Tylecodon paniculatus , Cotyledon orbiculata , Zygophyllum sessilifolium , Z. retrofractum , Acacia karroo and Rhus species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.

Related Research Articles

<i>Chrysoritis pan</i> Species of butterfly

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<i>Chrysoritis pyramus</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis pyramus, the Pyramus opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the northern slopes of the Swartberg, the Kammanassie Mountains and the Langeberg in the Western Cape.

<i>Chrysoritis swanepoeli</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis swanepoeli, the Swanepoel's opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the Swartberg Pass and Schoemanskloof, the Groot Swartberg, the Huis River Pass and Gamkaskloof in the Western Cape.

Chrysoritis chrysantas, the Karoo daisy copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the Northern Cape to the Western Cape.

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Chrysoritis zonarius, the donkey daisy copper or Coetzer's daisy copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, along the coast and inland from the Cape Peninsula, north-west to Paleisheuwel and Lambert's Bay and along the hills to the Western Cape.

<i>Chrysoritis felthami</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis felthami, the Feltham's opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.

<i>Chrysoritis pyroeis</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis pyroeis, the sand-dune opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.

<i>Chrysoritis aethon</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis aethon, the Lydenburg 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.

Chrysoritis natalensis, the Natal opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found from the Eastern Cape, along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and inland to Zululand and the midlands.

Chrysoritis phosphor, the scarce scarlet or golden flash, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by Roland Trimen in 1866. It is found in South Africa.

Chrysoritis turneri, the Turner's opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.

Chrysoritis blencathrae, the Waaihoek opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the peaks of the Waaihoek and Sybasberg in the Western Cape.

<i>Chrysoritis palmus</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis palmus, the water opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.

<i>Chrysoritis thysbe</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis thysbe, the opal copper or common opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.

<i>Chrysoritis uranus</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis uranus, the Uranus opal, is a lycaenid butterfly that is found only in South Africa.

Chrysoritis pelion, the Machacha opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found only in South Africa.

<i>Chrysoritis beaufortius</i> Species of butterfly

Chrysoritis beaufortius, the Beaufort opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found only in South Africa.

Chrysoritis brooksi, the Brook's opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found only in South Africa.

<i>Chrysoritis nigricans</i> Species of butterfly

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References

  1. Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.