Chrysoritis aethon

Lydenburg opal
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Chrysoritis
Species:	C. aethon
Binomial name
	Chrysoritis aethon; (Trimen, 1887)
Synonyms
	Zeritis aethon Trimen, 1887 ; Poecilimitis aethon ;

Chrysoritis aethon, the Lydenburg opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, along the Drakensberg escarpment to Mariepskop in Limpopo.

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April, with peaks in November and February. There are several generations per year.^[3]

The larvae feed on Rhus zeyheri and Diospyros species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.

References

^ Cockburn, K.N.A. (2020) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Chrysoritis aethon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161341605A175073547. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161341605A175073547.en. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
^ Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.

Data related to Chrysoritis aethon at Wikispecies

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[1] Cockburn, K.N.A. (2020) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Chrysoritis aethon". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161341605A175073547. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161341605A175073547.en. Retrieved 20 September 2021.

[2] Chrysoritis at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms

[3] 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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