Lepidochrysops asteris

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.

Lepidochrysops asteris
Figure 6
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Lepidochrysops
Species:
L. asteris
Binomial name
Lepidochrysops asteris
(Godart, [1824])[1]
Synonyms
  • Polyommatus asteris Godart, [1824]
  • Neochrysops asteris
  • Lycaena caffrariae Trimen, 1887
  • Lepidochrysops caffrariae
  • Cupido caffrariae
  • Catochrysops caffrariae
  • Lycaena celaeus Trimen, 1866

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.[2]

The larvae feed on Selago species (including Selago serrata), Becium burchellianum and Plectranthus grandidentatus.

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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