Myrina dermaptera

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Myrina dermaptera
Myrina dermaptera.JPG
Myrina dermaptera1.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Myrina
Species:
M. dermaptera
Binomial name
Myrina dermaptera
(Wallengren, 1857) [1]
Synonyms
  • Loxura dermapteraWallengren, 1857

Myrina dermaptera, the lesser fig-tree blue or scarce fig-tree blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Arabia and northern Oman.

Contents

Description

The wingspan is 26–32 mm for males and 30–38 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with strong peaks in November and from April to June. [2]

Habitat and behavior

The males are highly territorial, and patrol their chosen spots around fig trees. They are noted to perform in an unusual hovering and spiraling aerial display, which seems as a form of threat or dominance. [3]

The larvae feed on Ficus species, including F. sur , F. thonningii and F. natalensis .

Female at uMhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu-Natal Lesser fig tree blue Myrina dermaptera dermaptera 2012 07 10 12 10 17 0851.jpg
Female at uMhlanga Rocks, KwaZulu-Natal
Caterpillar at Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal Myrina dermaptera iN 228280728 c.jpg
Caterpillar at Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal

Subspecies

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References

  1. Myrina at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN   978-1-86872-724-7.
  3. Woodhall, S. (2009). "Strange behaviour from a Myrina dermaptera dermaptera (Scarce Fig-tree Blue) male". Metamorphosis. 20 (1). The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 38–39.