Chrysoritis uranus

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Uranus opal
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species:
C. uranus
Binomial name
Chrysoritis uranus
(Pennington, 1962)[1]
Synonyms
  • Poecilmitis uranus Pennington, 1962
  • Poecilmitis uranus schoemani Heath, 1994

Chrysoritis uranus, the Uranus opal, is a lycaenid butterfly that is found only in South Africa.

The wingspan is 24–30 mm for males and 25–32 mm for females. Flight period has several broods from October to April.[2]

The larvae feed on Centella, Aspalathus, and Zygophyllum species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.[2]

Subspecies[edit]

  • Chrysoritis uranus uranus – South Africa: Western Cape
  • Chrysoritis uranus schoemani (Heath, 1994) – South Africa: Western Cape

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. ^ a b Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.