Cacyreus dicksoni

Cacyreus dicksoni
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Cacyreus
Species:	C. dicksoni
Binomial name
Cacyreus dicksoni Pennington, 1962[1]

Dickson's Geranium Bronze (Cacyreus dicksoni) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found from South Africa, from the West Cape along the coast to the North Cape.

The wingspan is 16–24 mm for males and 19–25 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to March.^[2]

The larvae feed on the buds, flowers and green seeds of Geranium and Pelargonium species. Young larva burrow into the side of the bud on which the egg was laid and feed on the forming petals. Later, they feed on the developing seeds as well.^[3]

References

1. Cacyreus, Site of Markku Savela
2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
3. Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Polyommatini (part 1)