Lepidochrysops variabilis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Lycaenidae |
Genus: | Lepidochrysops |
Species: | L. variabilis |
Binomial name | |
Lepidochrysops variabilis Cottrell, 1965 [1] | |
Lepidochrysops variabilis, the variable blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Cape Peninsula, inland along the western mountains to southern Namaqualand, along the eastern Drakensberg to the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Lesotho, Mpumalanga, the southern Limpopo, then west to the central Limpopo, North West and the hills of Gauteng. It is also found in eastern Zimbabwe.
The wingspan is 28–35 mm for males and 34–37 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to February (with peaks in October and January). There are two generations per year, but only one at high altitudes with adults on wing from December to January. [2]
The larvae feed on Selago species (including Selago corymbosa ), Ocimum and Salvia species. Third and later instar larvae feed on the brood of Camponotus niveosetus ants.
The Wineland blue is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape.
The Ball's blue is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa.
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 titei, the Tite's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the Western Cape.
Lepidochrysops victori, the Victor's blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is only known from four small areas on the Groot Winterberg in the Eastern Cape.
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 methymna, the monkey blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.
Lepidochrysops ketsi, the ketsi blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.
Lepidochrysops robertsoni, the Robertson's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Western Cape to Eastern Cape. It is also found in the Free State and possibly in Gauteng.
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 lerothodi, the Lesotho blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found mainly found in Lesotho. In South Africa it is only found on high mountain peaks in the Golden Gate Highlands in Limpopo province, the Free State and the Eastern Cape.
Lepidochrysops tantalus, the king blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Drakensberg foothills in the Eastern Cape to the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, Swaziland, then along the escarpment hills to Mpumalanga and Gauteng. It is also found in Limpopo.
Lepidochrysops ortygia, the koppie blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the hills in the Eastern Cape, north through the lower parts of Lesotho to the Free State, southern Mpumalanga and Gauteng.
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 oreas, the peninsula 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 plebeja, the twin-spot blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It was described by Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1898. It is found in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa.
Lepidochrysops patricia, the patrician blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape and to KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, the North West and the Northern Cape.
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.
Lepidochrysops trimeni, the Trimen's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the Western Cape.
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