Zintha

Zintha is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. It is monotypic, with the only species being Zintha hintza, the blue-eyed Pierrot, blue pied Pierrot or Hintza blue. The pied Pierrots proper are the closely related genus Tuxentius, however, and like Zintha they were formerly included in Castalius.[1]

Blue-eyed Pierrot
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Subfamily: Polyommatinae
Tribe: Polyommatini
Genus: Zintha
Eliot, 1973
Species:
Z. hintza
Binomial name
Zintha hintza
(Trimen, 1864)
Synonyms
  • Castalius hintza (Trimen, 1864)
  • Lycaena hintza Trimen, 1864
  • Castalius hintza krooni Dickson, 1973
  • Castalius resplendens Butler, 1876

Description

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 24–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April.[2]

Food plants

The larvae feed on Ziziphus species, including Z. zeyheriana and Z. mucronata.

Distribution and subspecies

This butterfly occurs in tropical eastern and southern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized:[3]

  • Zintha hintza hintza (Trimen, 1864)South Africa to Kenya, possibly Zaire
  • Zintha hintza krooni (Dickson, 1973)Namibia and adjacent regions
  • Zintha hintza resplendens (Butler, 1876)Ethiopia and adjacent regions

Footnotes

  1. Brower (2008), and see references in Savela (2007)
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  3. See references in Savela (2007)

References

  • Data related to Zintha at Wikispecies


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