Poecilmitis orientalis

Poecilmitis orientalis
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, 1976
Synonyms
  • 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

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