Aphnaeus hutchinsonii

(Redirected from Aphnaeus zanzibarensis)

Aphnaeus hutchinsonii, the Hutchinson's silver spot or Hutchinson's high-flier, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, from Zimbabwe through eastern Africa to Somalia. In South Africa it is found from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo.

Aphnaeus hutchinsonii
Seitz Fauna AfricanaTaf 69 (line d)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Aphnaeus
Species:
A. hutchinsonii
Binomial name
Aphnaeus hutchinsonii
Trimen, 1887[1]
Synonyms
  • Paraphnaeus hutchinsoni
  • Aphnaeus zanzibarensis Grose-Smith, 1889
  • Aphnaeus drucei Neave, 1904

The wingspan is 29.5–33 mm (1.16–1.30 in) for males and 32–43 mm (1.3–1.7 in) for females. Adults are on wing from September to January with a peak from October to November. There is one generation per year.[2]

The larvae feed on Acacia robusta, Burkea africana, Loranthus and Viscum species. The larvae are attended by ants.

References

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  1. ^ Aphnaeus 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.
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