Cigaritis phanes

Cigaritis phanes
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Cigaritis
Species:	C. phanes
Binomial name
Cigaritis phanes (Trimen, 1873)[1]
Synonyms
Aphnaeus phanes Trimen, 1873 Spindasis phanes

The Silvery Bar (Cigaritis phanes) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in south-west Africa, including Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa. In South Africa it is found from north-western KwaZulu-Natal to the northern part of the Orange Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, the Limpopo Province, the North West Province and the North Cape.

The wingspan is 24-27 mm for males and 26-30 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks from September to November and from March to June^[2].

The larvae feed on Acacia mellifera and Ximenia caffra.

References

1. ^ Cigaritis, Site of Markku Savela
2. ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.