- Poecilmitis orientalis
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Poecilmitis orientalis Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Lycaenidae Genus: Poecilmitis Species: P. orientalis Binomial name Poecilmitis orientalis
Swanepoel, 1976Synonyms - Chrysoritis orientalis
The Eastern Opal (Poecilmitis orientalis) is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal.
The wingspan is 18-22 mm for males and 20-24 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to January, with a peak in December. There is one generation per year.[1]
The larvae feed on Thesium 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 orientalis. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.
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