Tarucus thespis

Tarucus thespis, the fynbos blue or vivid blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the Northern Cape, south to fynbos in the West Cape and east to the Amathole Mountains in the Eastern Cape.

Fynbos blue
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Tarucus
Species:
T. thespis
Binomial name
Tarucus thespis
(Linnaeus, 1764)[1]
Synonyms
  • Papilio thespis Linnaeus, 1764
  • Papilio pitho Linnaeus, 1764

The wingspan is 20–25 mm for males and 20–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round, with peaks from September to November and from February to March.[2]

The larvae feed on Phylica imberbis and Saxifraga species.

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Tarucus thespis.
Wikispecies has information related to Tarucus thespis.
  1. Tarucus at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  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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