Tarucus is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. They are commonly known as blue Pierrots or simply Pierrots. The latter name is often used for the closely related genus Castalius. The delimitation of Castalius versus Tarucus is not yet fully resolved, with some species, such as the dark Pierrot, having been moved between the two genera repeatedly. It may even be that they are eventually regarded as synonymous, and in that case the older name Castalius would supersede Tarucus by the Principle of Priority.
Kedestes barberae, or Barber's ranger, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in southern Africa, from the Cape Province to Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Transvaal, the Orange Free State and KwaZulu-Natal.
Dingana bowkeri, or Bowker's widow, is a butterfly of the family Nymphalidae. It is found in Lesotho, South Africa, in the Eastern Cape and Richmond and Cradock in the Cape Province.
Eretis umbra, the small marbled elf, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from South Africa to eastern Africa and Uganda. Similar to Eretis djaelaelae but lacks white forelegs.
Spialia nanus, the dwarf sandman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa, in the western Cape, western Orange Free State, southern North West Province and the northern Cape.
Spialia asterodia, the star sandman or Asterodia sandman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa from the western Cape to the southern part of the north Cape and across the east Cape to Lesotho, the Orange Free State, Swaziland, western KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province, the eastern North West Province and Gauteng. It is also present in southern Mozambique and Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of grassland and grassy areas in fynbos, Karoo and Bushveld.
Spialia agylla, the grassveld sandman, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in South Africa.
Metisella malgacha, the grassveld sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found in the Cape, Orange Free State, Lesotho, Transvaal, and KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa. The habitat consists of grassland and grassy areas in the fynbos and Karoo.
Metisella meninx, the marsh sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is endemic to the wet vleis of highland grassland in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the northern part of the Orange Free State and the extreme east of the North West Province. It has become extinct in many areas close to Johannesburg due to building developments.
Tsitana tsita, the dismal sylph, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from Winterberg and Amatolas in the eastern Cape along the Drakensberg into Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal down to sea level from Durban across the midlands to the Tugela, the Orange Free State, the eastern part of the North West Province and Gauteng into the Limpopo Province. It is also present in Zimbabwe. The habitat consists of grassland at altitudes between sea level and 2,600 metres.
Kedestes lepenula, the chequered ranger or chequered skipper, is a butterfly of the family Hesperiidae. It is found from the central East Cape through the western part of the Orange Free State, the eastern part of North West Province into the dry western parts of the Limpopo Province up to Polokwane. It is also found in Botswana.
Thestor basutus, the Basuto skolly or Basuto magpie, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.
Anthene contrastata, the mashuna hairtail, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in eastern Africa, from South Africa, north to Ethiopia and Arabia.
Anthene talboti, the Talbot's hairtail or Talbot's ciliate blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from South Africa to Zimbabwe, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. In South Africa it is found in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands, through to Orange Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province and the North West Province. It is also present in the North Cape.
Tarucus thespis, the fynbos blue or vivid blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Northern Cape, south to fynbos in the West Cape and east to the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape.
Tarucus bowkeri, or Bowker's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Northern Cape, south to fynbos in the West Cape and east to the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape.
Harpendyreus notoba, the salvia blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the northern East Cape, through the southern part of the Orange Free State to southern Gauteng the southern North West Province. It is also present in the North Cape.
Lepidochrysops ketsi, the ketsi blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.
Euchrysops dolorosa, the Sabi smoky blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the East Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, the eastern part of the Orange Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the Limpopo province, and the North West province.
Actizera lucida, the rayed blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from eastern and southern Africa to Kenya. It is also found on Madagascar. In South Africa it is widespread from the West Cape to the Orange Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province and the North West Province.
