Poecilmitis endymion

Poecilmitis endymion
Poecilmitis endymion
Conservation status
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Poecilmitis
Species: P. endymion
Binomial name
Poecilmitis endymion
(Pennington, 1962)
Synonyms
  • Chrysoritis endymion

The Endymion Opal (Poecilmitis endymion) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.

The wingspan is 30-34 mm for males and 30-38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from November to January. There is one extended generation per year.[1]

The larvae feed on Thesium and Thesidium species. They are attended to by Crematogaster peringueyi ants.

References

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