Poecilmitis daphne

Poecilmitis daphne
Poecilmitis daphne
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Poecilmitis
Species: P. daphne
Binomial name
Poecilmitis daphne
Dickson, 1975
Synonyms
  • Chrysoritis daphne

Daphne's Opal (Poecilmitis daphne) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern slopes of the Kammanassie Mountains in the West Cape.

The wingspan is 25-29 mm for males and 29-31 mm for females. Adults are on wing from November to February. There is one extended generation per year.[1]

The larvae feed on Thesium species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.

References

  1. ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.