Zintha hintza

Blue-eyed pierrot
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Tribe:	Polyommatini
Genus:	Zintha Eliot, 1973
Species:	Z. hintza
Binomial name
Zintha hintza (Trimen, 1864)
Synonyms
Castalius hintza (Trimen, 1864) Lycaena hintza Trimen, 1864 Castalius hintza krooni Dickson, 1973 Castalius resplendens Butler, 1876

Zintha is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. It is monotypic, with the only species being Zintha hintza, the Blue-eyed pierrot, Blue pied pierrot or Hintza blue. The pied pierrots proper are the closely related genus Tuxentius, however, but like Zintha they were formerly included in Castalius.^[1]

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 24–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April.^[2]

The larvae feed on Ziziphus species, including Ziziphus zeheriana and Ziziphus mucronata.

Distribution and subspecies

This butterfly occurs in tropical eastern and southern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized:^[3]

• Zintha hintza hintza (Trimen, 1864)

South Africa to Kenya, possibly Zaire

• Zintha hintza krooni (Dickson, 1973)

Namibia and adjacent regions

• Zintha hintza resplendens (Butler, 1876)

Ethiopia and adjacent regions

Footnotes

1. Brower (2008), and see references in Savela (2007)
2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
3. See references in Savela (2007)

References

• Brower, Andrew V.Z. (2008): Tree of Life Web Project – Zintha hintza (Trimen 1864). The Blue-eyed Pierrot. Version of 2008-MAY-19. Retrieved 2009-NOV-29.
• Savela, Markku (2009): Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms – Zintha. Version of 2007-MAY-20. Retrieved 2009-NOV-29.
• Seitz, A. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 73 b