Phasis clavum

Phasis clavum, the Namaqua arrowhead, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa and Namibia.

Namaqua arrowhead
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Phasis
Species:	P. clavum
Binomial name
Phasis clavum Murray, 1935[1]
Synonyms
Phasis thero var. clavum Murray, 1935

The wingspan is 29-39.5 mm for males and 35–44 mm females. Adults are on wing from September to November and sometimes January.[2]

The larvae feed on Rhus and Melianthus species. They are associated with ants of the genus Crematogaster.[3]

Subspecies

• Phasis clavum clavum (Namibia, South Africa: Western Cape through Namaqualand to the Northern Cape)
• Phasis clavum erythema Quickelberge, 1980 (Roggeveld near Sutherland)

References

1. Phasis 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.
3. "Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Aphnaeini (part 4)". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2012-07-05.