Chrysoritis palmus
Chrysoritis palmus, the water opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa.
| Chrysoritis palmus | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Riodinidae |
| Genus: | Chrysoritis |
| Species: | C. palmus |
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysoritis palmus | |
| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 21–29 mm for males and 25–31 mm for females. Adults of C. p. palmus are on year from September to April, with a peak in December. The peak for C. p. margueritae is January to March. There are several generations per year.[2]
The larvae feed on Aspalathus sarcantha, Aspalathus carnosa, Chrysanthemoides monilifera, Berzelia intermedia, Berzelia lanuginosa and Berzelia abrotanoides. They are attended to by Crematogaster peringueyi ants.
Subspecies
- Chrysoritis palmus palmus (Western Cape)
- Chrysoritis palmus margueritae (Dickson, 1982) (Western Cape to Eastern Cape)
References
- Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- 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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