Aloeides aranda

Aloeides aranda
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Aloeides
Species:	A. aranda
Binomial name
Aloeides aranda (Wallengren, 1857)[1]
Synonyms
Cygaritis aranda Wallengren, 1857

The Aranda Copper (Aloeides aranda) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the whole of South Africa, except in high montane forests and the arid western areas. It is also found in Zimbabwe.

The wingspan is 20-29 mm for males and 27-31 mm females. Adults are on wing from September to April in warm areas (with peaks in October and February) and in October and February in two generations in cooler areas^[2].

The larvae feed on Aspalathus species. They are attended to by Pheidole capensis ants.

Subspecies

• Aloeides aranda aranda (South Africa)
• Aloeides aranda marshalli Aurivillius (northern and eastern Zimbabwe)

References

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