Chrysoritis nigricans
| Dark opal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Set of C. n. zwartbergae | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Chrysoritis |
| Species: | C. nigricans
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysoritis nigricans (Aurivillius, 1924)[1]
| |
| Synonyms | |
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Chrysoritis nigricans, the dark opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found only in South Africa.
The wingspan is 22–33 mm for males and 23–38 mm for females. Flight period is multi-brooded from September to April, peaking October/November and March.[2]
Larva feed on Thesium species, Osteospermum , and Zygophyllum species. They are associated with ants of the genus Crematogaster.
Subspecies[]
- Chrysoritis nigricans nigricans (South Africa: Western Cape province)
- Chrysoritis nigricans zwartbergae (Dickson, 1982) (South Africa: Western Cape province)
- Chrysoritis nigricans rubrescens Heath & Pringle, 2007 (South Africa: Western Cape province)
References[]
- ^ Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
Media related to Chrysoritis nigricans at Wikimedia Commons
Categories:
- Chrysoritis
- Endemic butterflies of South Africa
- Butterflies described in 1924
- Taxa named by Per Olof Christopher Aurivillius
- Aphnaeinae stubs