Arthropods • Earth.com

Lepidochrysops asteris

(Lepidochrysops asteris)

Description

Lepidochrysops asteris, the star blue or brilliant blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the Western Cape, along the Rivieronderendberge and the Rooiberg along the coastal ranges to the Eastern Cape and the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. The wingspan is 32–40 mm for males and 27–44 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to November and from February to March in two generations per year from Port Elizabeth northwards. Adults of southern populations are on wing from November to December in one generation. The larvae feed on Selago species (including Selago serrata), Becium burchellianum and Plectranthus grandidentatus.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum:
Class: Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Lycaenidae
Genus:Lepidochrysops
News coming your way
The biggest news about our planet delivered to you each day