Lepidochrysops loveni

Lepidochrysops loveni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Lepidochrysops
Species:	L. loveni
Binomial name
Lepidochrysops loveni (Aurivillius, 1922) [1]
Synonyms
Cupido loveniAurivillius, 1922 Neochrysops parsimon ab. albicansHulstaert, 1924 Cupido celaeus var. abyssiniensisStrand, 1911 Catochrysops celaeus kivuensisJoicey & Talbot, 1921 Euchrysops parsimon oculusUngemach, 1932

Lepidochrysops loveni is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Zambia and possibly Malawi and Angola. ^[2] The habitat consists of open Brachystegia woodland at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,500 metres, as well as grass-topped low hill ranges.

Adults are on wing from October to December.

The larvae feed on Ocimum and Salvia species.

Subspecies

• L. l. loveni (Uganda, western and central Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Lualaba, north-western Tanzania, Zambia, possibly Malawi and Angola)
• L. l. abyssiniensis(Strand, 1911) (Ethiopia)
• L. l. kivuensis(Joicey & Talbot, 1921) (Democratic Republic of the Congo: northern Rift Valley to Kivu and the plains east of Lake Kivu and Lake Edward, Rwanda)
• L. l. oculus(Ungemach, 1932) (Ethiopia)

References

1. Lepidochrysops at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms
2. Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Polyommatini (part 3)