Phasis thero

Phasis thero
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Phasis
Species:	P. thero
Binomial name
Phasis thero (Linnaeus, 1764) [1]
Synonyms
Papilio theroLinnaeus, 1764 Papilio salmoneusStoll, [1781] Papilio ruminaDrury, 1773 Papilio erosineFabricius, 1787 Papilio pulsiusHerbst, 1793

Phasis thero, the silver arrowhead or hooked copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.

The wingspan is 31–46 mm for males and 38–47 mm females. Adults of subspecies P. t. thero are on wing from September to November and again from March to May in two generations. Adults of subspecies P. t. cedarbergae are on wing from October to November and probably also in autumn. ^[2]

The larvae feed on Rhus undulata and Melianthus major . Larvae have been found inside hollow stems of their food plant, but also in nests of Crematogaster peringueyi ants at the base of these stems.

Subspecies

• Phasis thero thero (from the Cape Peninsula, north along coast to Lambert's Bay, east to Knysna)
• Phasis thero cedarbergaeDickson & Wykeham, 1974 (Cederberg and Gifberg)

References

1. Phasis 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.