Chrysoritis adonis

Chrysoritis adonis, the Adonis opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the northern slopes of the Gydoberg, the Skurweberg, the Baviaanskloofberg and the Waboomberg, as well as the Elandskloof near Seweweekspoort.

Chrysoritis adonis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species:
C. adonis
Binomial name
Chrysoritis adonis
(Pennington, 1962)
Synonyms
  • Poecilmitis adonis Pennington, 1962

The wingspan is 29–36 mm for males and 30–37 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to March, with peaks in November and January. There are multiple generations per year.[1]

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

Subspecies

  • Chrysoritis adonis adonis (South Africa: Western Cape province)
  • Chrysoritis adonis aridimontis Heath & Pringle, 2007 (South Africa: Western Cape province)

References

  1. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.


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