Lepidochrysops oreas

Lepidochrysops oreas, the peninsula blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it found in fynbos on the Swartberg range from the Eastern Cape to Seweweekspoort and Klein Swartberg in the Western Cape. It is also found on the Rooiberg.

Lepidochrysops oreas
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Lepidochrysops
Species:
L. oreas
Binomial name
Lepidochrysops oreas
Tite, 1964[1]

The wingspan is 24–38 mm for males and 27–38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to February. There is one generation per year.[2]

The larvae feed on Selago species, including Selago serrata. Third and later instar larvae feed on the brood of Camponotus ants.

Subspecies
  • Lepidochrysops oreas oreas (upper slopes of Cape Peninsula Mountains)
  • Lepidochrysops oreas junae Dickson, 1974 (mountains east of Cape Flats)
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References
  1. Lepidochrysops at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.


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