Chrysoritis pyroeis

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Sand-dune opal
Chrysoritis pyroeis hersaleki, stel.jpg
Set of C. p. hersaleki
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species:
C. pyroeis
Binomial name
Chrysoritis pyroeis
(Trimen, 1864) [1]
Synonyms
  • Zeritis pyroeisTrimen, 1864
  • Poecilmitis pyroeis
  • Poecilmitis pyroeis hersalekiDickson, 1970

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

The wingspan is 22–31 mm for males and 25–38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to April with peaks from September to October and in February. There are several generations per year.

The larvae feed on Zygophyllum flexuosum and Thesium species. They are attended to by Myrmicaria nigra ants. [2]

Subspecies

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

Chrysoritis azurius, the azure opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known from the Northern Cape and Western Cape.

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

Chrysoritis pan, the Pan opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the Western Cape, the Northern Cape and the Eastern Cape.

<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.

Chrysoritis zeuxo, the jitterbug daisy copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from coastal fynbos in the Western Cape, from the Cape Peninsula to the Knysna area.

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 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.

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

Chrysoritis lycegenes, the Mooi River 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 province.

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.

<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.

<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

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

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.