Chrysoritis phosphor

Chrysoritis phosphor, the scarce scarlet or golden flash, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by Roland Trimen in 1866.[1] It is found in South Africa.

Chrysoritis phosphor
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Chrysoritis
Species:	C. phosphor
Binomial name
Chrysoritis phosphor (Trimen, 1866)
Synonyms
Zeritis phosphor Trimen, 1866 Bowkeria phosphor Bowkeria phosphor borealis Quickelberge, 1972

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 26–31 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, but mainly in November and April.[2]

The associated ant species is unknown but is suspected to be an arboreal Crematogaster species.[3]

Subspecies

• Chrysoritis phosphor phosphor (Eastern Cape)
• Chrysoritis phosphor borealis (Quickelberge, 1972) (KwaZulu-Natal midlands and Mpumalanga)

References

1. Savela, Markku. "Chrysoritis phosphor (Trimen, 1866)". Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms. Retrieved September 16, 2019.
2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
3. "Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Aphnaeini (part 1)". Archived from the original on August 19, 2014. Retrieved June 28, 2012.