Chrysoritis orientalis, the eastern opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal.
Chrysoritis orientalis | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Lepidoptera |
Family: | Lycaenidae |
Genus: | Chrysoritis |
Species: | C. orientalis
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Binomial name | |
Chrysoritis orientalis (Swanepoel, 1976)
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Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 18–22 mm for males and 20–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to January, with a peak in December. There is one generation per year.[2]
The larvae feed on Thesium species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.
References edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysoritis orientalis.
Wikispecies has information related to Chrysoritis orientalis.
- ^ Cockburn, K.N.A. (2020). "Chrysoritis orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T17853A168301391. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T17853A168301391.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.