Myrina silenus, the common fig-tree blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Sub-Saharan Africa, southern Arabia and northern Oman.
Common fig-tree blue | |
---|---|
Nominate subspecies, Nigeria | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Lycaenidae |
Genus: | Myrina |
Species: | M. silenus
|
Binomial name | |
Myrina silenus | |
Synonyms | |
|
Description
editThe wingspan is 26.5–34 mm for males and 33–41 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round with peaks from September to October and from April to June in the eastern part of the range.[2]
Habitat and behavior
editThe larvae feed on Ficus species, including F. capensis, F. cordata, F. sur, F. pumila and F. ingens.
Subspecies
edit- M. s. silenus
- M. s. nzoiae d'Abrera, 1980
- Range: Ethiopia, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, northern Oman, western and northern Kenya
- M. s. ficedula (Trimen, 1879)
- Range: southern Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia: Caprivi, Eswatini, South Africa: Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West, Gauteng, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Western Cape provinces
- M. s. penningtoni Dickson & Stephen, 1971
- Range: western South Africa: Western Cape to Northern Cape
- M. s. suzannae Larsen & Plowes, 1991
- Range: northern Namibia
References
edit- ^ Myrina at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
External links
editWikimedia Commons has media related to Myrina silenus.
Wikispecies has information related to Myrina silenus.
- Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 66 e, f as ficedula
- Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 68 a