Chrysoritis orientalis

Chrysoritis orientalis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species: C. orientalis
Binomial name
Chrysoritis orientalis
(Swanepoel, 1976)
Synonyms
  • Poecilmitis orientalis Swanepoel, 1976

The Eastern Opal (Chrysoritis orientalis) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal.

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.[1]

The larvae feed on Thesium species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.

References

  1. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
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