| Lepidochrysops lotana | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Lepidochrysops |
| Species: | L. lotana |
| Binomial name | |
| Lepidochrysops lotana Swanepoel, 1962 | |
Lepidochrysops lotana, the Lotana blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
This species is only known from two localities in the Limpopo province, the western slope of the Ysterberg and from Moria to Serala Forest in the Wolkberg area.
The wingspan is 42–44 mm for males and 42–46 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to early November. Peak emergence of the species is mid-October. [2] There is one generation per year. [3] The undersides show flat, grey coloration and smal basal black spots beneath the hindwing. [2]
These butterflies have a steadier flight compared to L. tantalus.
The larvae feed on host plant Becium grandiflorum, however, there's a scarcity of these plants due to overgrazing and infrequent fires, indicating endangerment of L. lotana. [2]
Lepidochrysops badhami, the Badham's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in Succulent Karoo to the east of Springbok in the Northern Cape.
Lepidochrysops jefferyi, the Jeffery's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it known from grassland on the hills above Ulundi, Fairview and the Sheba Mines in Mpumalanga.
Lepidochrysops oosthuizeni, Oosthuizen's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Lesotho and South Africa, where it is found on high altitude grassland and Nama Karoo on the Witteberg in the East Cape and the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho and the eastern Orange Free State.
Lepidochrysops outeniqua, the Outeniqua blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in fynbos on the Outeniqua Mountains in the Western Cape.
Lepidochrysops pringlei, the Pringle's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is restricted to the peaks of the Swartberg between Torenwater in the Eastern Cape and Seweweekspoort in the Western Cape.
Lepidochrysops quickelbergei, the Quickelberge's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in fynbos on the northern slopes of the Gydo Mountain and the Waboomsberg in the Western Cape.
Lepidochrysops swanepoeli, the Swanepoel's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane grassland in the hills above Fairview and the Sheba Mines in Mpumalanga. There is also a single record from northern KwaZulu-Natal.
Lepidochrysops wykehami, the Wykeham's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the hills of the Kamieskroon area in Northern Cape.
Lepidochrysops dukei, the Duke's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found in the Western Cape.
Lepidochrysops puncticilia, the mouse blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found in the Western Cape.
Lepidochrysops ignota, the Zulu blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the KwaZulu-Natal midlands to Eswatini, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Gauteng.
Lepidochrysops irvingi, the Irving's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is restricted to montane grassland in Eswatini and Mpumalanga.
Lepidochrysops grahami, Graham's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the north-eastern Eastern Cape.
Lepidochrysops tantalus, the king blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found in South Africa.
Lepidochrysops australis, the southern blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the above Greyton and Caledon along the coastal ranges to the Eastern Cape.
Lepidochrysops gydoae, the Gydo blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is restricted to fynbos on the northern slopes of the Gydo Mountain and the Theronsberg in the Western Cape.
Lepidochrysops swartbergensis, the Swartberg blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it found in fynbos on the Swartberg range from the Eastern Cape to Seweweekspoort and Klein Swartberg in the Western Cape. It is also found on the Rooiberg.
Lepidochrysops braueri, the Brauer's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it found in fynbos on the Swartberg range from the Eastern Cape to Seweweekspoort and Klein Swartberg in the Western Cape. It is also found on the Rooiberg.
Lepidochrysops glauca, the Rossouw's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is restricted to grassy escarpments near the Stoffberg, Dullstroom and Lydenburg in Mpumalanga.
Lepidochrysops asteris, the star blue or brilliant blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the Western Cape, along the Rivieronderendberge and the Rooiberg along the coastal ranges to the Eastern Cape and the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.
