Chrysoritis nigricans

Dark Opal
Set of C. n. zwartbergae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species: C. nigricans
Binomial name
Chrysoritis nigricans
(Aurivillius, 1924)[1]
Synonyms
  • Phasis thysbe var. nigricans Aurivillius, 1924
  • Poecilmitis nigricans
  • Poecilmitis nigricans zwartbergae Dickson, 1982
  • Poecilmitis nigricans rubrescens

Dark Opal (Chrysoritis nigricans) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.

The wingspan is 22–33 mm for males and 23–38 mm for females. Flight period is multi-brooded from September to April, peaking October/November and March.[2]

Larva feed on Thesium spp., Osteospermum polygaloides, and Zygophyllum spp. They are associated with Crematogaster spp. ants.

Subspecies

References

  1. Chrysoritis, Site of Markku Savela
  2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
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