Chrysoritis orientalis

Chrysoritis orientalis, the eastern opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal.

Chrysoritis orientalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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 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.[2]

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

References

  1. Cockburn, K.N.A. (2020). "Chrysoritis orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T17853A168301391. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T17853A168301391.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. 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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