Iolaus is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. The genera Argiolaus, Epamera, Iolaphilus and Stugeta are often included in Iolaus. Iolaus species are found in the Afrotropical realm.There are ca. 130 species in Iolaus
Iolaus silas, the southern sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae which is endemic to South Africa.
Iolaus mimosae, the mimosa sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa. The habitat consists of Karoo and savanna.
Iolaus nasisii, the Nasisi sapphire or Zimbabwe yellow-banded sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the forest and savannah in the extreme north of Limpopo, north to Uganda, western Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, northern Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia (Caprivi).
Iolaus diametra, the natal yellow-banded sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Africa, roughly from South Africa to Ethiopia.
Iolaus alienus, the brown-line sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in most of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Iolaus bellina, the white-spot sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The habitat consists of forests.
Iolaus cytaeis, the cytaeis sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia.
Iolaus iasis, the iasis sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Kenya. The habitat consists of forests and savanna. The species has also been recorded in cocoa plantations.
Iolaus maesa, the chocolate-bordered sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in northern Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Tshopo) and Uganda. The habitat consists of forests.
Iolaus mermis is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae first described by Hamilton Herbert Druce in 1896. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. The habitat consists of forests.
Iolaus obscura, the obscure sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in northern Namibia. The habitat consists of dry savanna.
Iolaus pollux, the Pollux sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Zambia. The habitat consists of forests.
Iolaus silanus, the three-tailed sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Kenya, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The habitat consists of forests.
Iolaus tajoraca is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. The habitat consists of arid savanna.
Iolaus sudanicus, the Sudanian sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Senegal, Burkina Faso, northern Nigeria, Niger, Chad, southern Sudan and Ethiopia. The habitat consists of Sudan savanna and the Sahel.
Iolaus menas, the blue savanna sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by Hamilton Herbert Druce in 1890. It is found in Senegal, the Gambia, Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. The habitat consists of savanna.
Iolaus schultzei, the Schultze's sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in northern Cameroon. The habitat consists of dry savanna.
Iolaus ismenias, the white sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Uganda and Ethiopia. The habitat consists of dry savanna.
Iolaus timon, the long-tailed sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda and Tanzania. The habitat consists of forests.
