Eicochrysops messapus

Last updated

Cupreous blue
SeitzGrossschmett13Plate73, Eicochrysops messapus mahallakoeana.jpg
Eicochrysops messapus-01 (xndr).jpg
male and wing undersides
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Eicochrysops
Species:
E. messapus
Binomial name
Eicochrysops messapus
(Godart, [1824]) [1]
Synonyms
  • Polyommatus messapusGodart, [1824]
  • Cupido sapphirinaStoneham, 1938
  • Lycaena accaWestwood, 1851
  • Lycaena mahallakoaenaWallengren, 1857
  • Eicochrysops mahallakoaena
  • Catochrysops nandianaBethune-Baker, 1906
  • Polyommatus sebagadisGuérin-Méneville, 1849
  • Cupido messapus ab. trisignatusStrand, 1911

Eicochrysops messapus, the cupreous blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. [2] It is found in Africa. In South Africa it is rare and only known from the northern part of the Limpopo province and northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The wingspan is 17–22 mm for males and 17–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round in warmer areas, with peaks in October and March. In cooler areas it is not found from April to September. [3]

The larvae probably feed on Thesium species.

Subspecies

E. m. mahallakoeana, mud-puddling Eicochrysops messapus mahallakoeana by mineraalsuiping, Skeerpoort, b.jpg
E. m. mahallakoeana, mud-puddling

Related Research Articles

South African number plates are unique in each of the provinces. Each province has their own number plate design and colours, as well as numbering scheme. e.g NN 29345

<i>Aeropetes</i> Genus of butterflies

Aeropetes is a monotypic butterfly genus in the family Nymphalidae. Its only species, Aeropetes tulbaghia, is commonly known as the Table Mountain beauty or mountain pride. It is native to southern Africa, where it occurs in South Africa, Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.

<i>Coeliades pisistratus</i> Species of butterfly

Coeliades pisistratus, the two-pip policeman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae that occurs commonly in much of sub-Saharan Africa.

<i>Eretis umbra</i> Species of butterfly

Eretis umbra, the small marbled elf, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from South Africa to eastern Africa and Uganda. Similar to Eretis djaelaelae but lacks white forelegs.

Metisella malgacha, the grassveld sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Cape, Free State, Lesotho, Transvaal, and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The habitat consists of grassland and grassy areas in the fynbos and Karoo.

<i>Gegenes niso</i> Species of butterfly

Gegenes niso, the common Hottentot skipper or plain Hottentot skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in Africa. It is found in a wide range of habitats, including savanna, grassland and open patches in forests.

<i>Alaena amazoula</i> Species of butterfly

Alaena amazoula, the yellow Zulu, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa.

<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.

<i>Iolaus silarus</i> Species of butterfly

Iolaus silarus, the straight-line sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by Hamilton Herbert Druce in 1885. It is found in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Zambia, southern Zaire, Tanzania, south-western Kenya and South Africa. In South Africa it is found in wooded savannah in northern KwaZulu-Natal and in savannah from Eswatini to Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West. It is also present in Afromontane forest on the Wolkberg and the northern Drakensberg.

<i>Myrina silenus</i> Species of butterfly

Myrina silenus, the common fig-tree blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Arabia and northern Oman.

<i>Cigaritis natalensis</i> Species of butterfly

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, Swaziland, the Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West provinces, and part of the Northern Cape province. It is also present in Botswana.

<i>Cigaritis mozambica</i> Species of butterfly

Cigaritis mozambica, the Mozambique bar or Mozambique silverline, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in tropical Africa. In South Africa it is found from the coast of KwaZulu-Natal to the Drakensberg, then to Swaziland, the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West provinces.

<i>Chloroselas mazoensis</i> Species of butterfly

Chloroselas mazoensis, the purple gem, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West provinces. It is also found in Zimbabwe.

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

Aloeides damarensis, the Damara 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 provinces.

<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>Crudaria leroma</i> Species of butterfly

Crudaria leroma, the silver-spotted grey, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in south-western Africa, including Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana and South Africa. In South Africa, it is found from the Western to the Eastern and Northern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and Gauteng provinces.

<i>Cacyreus tespis</i> Species of butterfly

Cacyreus tespis, the water bronze or water blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from South Africa to Ethiopia.

<i>Eicochrysops hippocrates</i> Species of butterfly

Eicochrysops hippocrates, the white-tipped blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Africa, south of the Sahara, including Madagascar. In South Africa it is found from the East Cape along the KwaZulu-Natal coast to Swaziland, Mpumalanga and the Limpopo province.

<i>Cupidopsis cissus</i> Species of butterfly

Cupidopsis cissus, the common meadow blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in most of Africa, south of the Sahara.

South African Hockey Association

The South African Hockey Association (SAHA) is the governing body of field hockey in South Africa. It is affiliated to FIH International Hockey Federation and AHF African Hockey Federation. The Head Office of SAHA is in Illovo, Johannesburg, South Africa.

References

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