- Poecilmitis aureus
-
Poecilmitis aureus Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Poecilmitis Species: P. aureus Binomial name Poecilmitis aureus
van Son, 1966Synonyms - Chrysoritis aureus (van Son, 1966)
The Heidelberg Copper or Golden Opal (Poecilmitis aureus) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane Grassland in Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
The wingspan is 24-28 mm for males and 28-32 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round with peaks in December and March.[1]
The larvae feed on Clutia pulchella species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.
References
- ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.
- Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. Poecilmitis aureus. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.
This Theclinae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.