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 pallene, the saffron sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from southern Sudan, Angola, southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Shaba) and Kenya to South Africa. In South Africa it is found from the thorn belt of KwaZulu-Natal and Eswatini to Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West.
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 alienus, the brown-line sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in most of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Iolaus aurivillii, Aurivillius' sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, western Kenya and Zambia. The habitat consists of forests.
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 frater, the brotherly sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Tanzania. The habitat consists of upland forests, just below the submontane level.
Iolaus glaucus is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Israel, Jordan, western Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, Ethiopia and Somalia.
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 mafugae is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kivu). The habitat consists of montane forests.
Iolaus moyambina, the Sierra Leone fine sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Guinea, Sierra Leone and western Liberia.
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 scintillans, the scintillating sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Senegal, Burkina Faso, northern Ivory Coast, northern Ghana, northern Nigeria, Cameroon, southern Sudan and northern Uganda. The habitat consists of very dry savanna.
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 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 gabunica, the Gabon sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Cameroon, Gabon, Uganda, Kenya and Zambia. The habitat consists of forests.
Iolaus parasilanus, the friendly sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Ghana, Nigeria, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Angola, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. The habitat consists of forests.
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 maritimus, the coastal sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Kenya and Tanzania. The habitat consists of coastal and subcoastal forests.
