- Chrysoritis palmus
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Chrysoritis palmus Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Chrysoritis Species: C. palmus Binomial name Chrysoritis palmus
(Stoll, [1781])[1]Synonyms - Papilio palmus Stoll, [1781]
The Water Opal (Chrysoritis palmus) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.
The wingspan is 21-29 mm for males and 25-31 mm for females. Adults of ssp. palmus are on year from September to April, with a peak in December. The peak for ssp. 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 (West Cape)
- Chrysoritis palmus margueritae (Dickson, 1982) (West Cape to East Cape)
References
- ^ Chrysoritis, Site of Markku Savela
- ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
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