Cigaritis natalensis

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Natal bar
Cigaritis natalensis, J Dobson, a.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Cigaritis
Species:
C. natalensis
Binomial name
Cigaritis natalensis
(Westwood, 1851) [1]
Synonyms
  • Aphnaeus natalensisWestwood, 1851
  • Amblypodia natalensisWestwood, 1852
  • Spindasis masilikaziWallengren, 1857
  • Spindasis natalensis
  • Spindasis natalensis ab. obscuraAurivillius, 1923

Cigaritis natalensis, the Natal bar or Natal barred blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Eastern Cape along the coast to KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini, the Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West provinces, and part of the Northern Cape province. It is also present in Botswana.

The wingspan is 25–32.5 mm for males and 26.5–34 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round with peaks from September to October and from March to May. [2]

The larvae feed on Canthium inerme , Clerodendrum glabrum and Ximenia caffra .

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References

  1. Cigaritis 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. p. 184. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7. OCLC   958561486.