Iolaus silas

Iolaus silas, the southern sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae which is endemic to South Africa.

Southern sapphire
Female and male
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Iolaus
Species:
I. silas
Binomial name
Iolaus silas
(Westwood, [1851])[2]
Synonyms
  • Anops silas Westwood, [1851]
  • Thecla nega Herrich-Schäffer, [1853]

Range

It occurs from the southeastern Nama Karoo in the Eastern Cape (Somerset East and Bedford areas), and along the eastern littoral to northern KwaZulu-Natal.[3] It is present in spekboomveld, coastal savannah and lowland forest.

Description and biology

The wingspan is 32–37 mm for males and 34–41 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas and from September to January in the southern part of its range.[3] The larvae feed on various mistletoes, namely Moquiniella rubra, Erianthemum dregei and Loranthus usuiensis.

References
  1. Pringle, E.L. 2020. Iolaus silas (amended version of 2020 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T161342145A175074166. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161342145A175074166.en. Downloaded on 08 August 2021.
  2. Iolaus at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  3. 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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