The white spotted sapphire (Iolaus lulua) is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is restricted to the forested coastal dunes of northern KwaZulu-Natal and sandy lowland forests from False Bay to Kosi Bay, inland to the Ndumu and Lebombo foothills. The habitat consists of coastal forests and thick bush.
| White spotted sapphire | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Iolaus |
| Species: | I. lulua
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| Binomial name | |
| Iolaus lulua (Riley, 1944)
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| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 26–30 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to December and in March. There are two generations per year.[2]
The larvae feed on Helixanthera woodii, Helixanthera kirkii and Oncocalyx bolusii.[3]
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to White spotted sapphire.
- ^ Gimenez Dixon, M. (1996). "Iolaus lulua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T10843A3221767. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T10843A3221767.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
- ^ Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Subtribe Iolaina
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