Chrysoritis oreas

Drakensberg copper
Conservation status
	; Near Threatened (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Chrysoritis
Species:	C. oreas
Binomial name
	Chrysoritis oreas; (Trimen, 1891)
Synonyms
	Zeritis oreas Trimen, 1891;

Chrysoritis oreas, the Drakensberg copper or Drakensberg daisy copper, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane grassland in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg foothills.

The wingspan is 21–23 mm for males and 22–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing from late September to mid-November. There is one generation per year.[1]

The larvae feed on Thesium species. They are attended to by Myrmicaria nigra ants.

References

Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.

Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. Chrysoritis oreas. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.

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[1] Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.