Chrysoritis
Encyclopedia
Chrysoritis, commonly called Opals or Coppers, is a genus of butterflies
in the Lycaenidae
family found mainly in southern Africa and particularly South Africa
.
The chrysantas species-group:
The oreas species-group:
The pyroeis species-group:
The thysbe species-group:
The zeuxo species-group:
Formerly separated in genus, Poecilmitis:
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
family found mainly in southern Africa and particularly South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Species include
The chrysaor species-group:- Chrysoritis aethonChrysoritis aethonThe Lydenburg Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, along the Drakensberg escarpment to Mariepskop in the Limpopo Province....
(Trimen, 1887) – Lydenburg Opal - Chrysoritis aureusPoecilmitis aureusThe Heidelberg Copper or Golden Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane Grassland in Gauteng and Mpumalanga....
(van Son, 1966) – Heidelberg Copper or Golden Opal - Chrysoritis chrysantasChrysoritis chrysantasThe Karoo Daisy Copper is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the North Cape to the West Cape....
(Trimen, 1868) – Karoo Daisy Copper - Chrysoritis lycegenesChrysoritis lycegenesThe Mooi River Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, along the Drakensberg escarpment to Mariepskop in the Limpopo Province....
(Trimen, 1874) – Mooi River Opal - Chrysoritis lyncurium (Trimen, 1868) – Tsomo River Opal or Tsomo River CopperTsomo River CopperThe Tsomo River Copper or Tsomo River Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found from the northern East Cape to southern KwaZulu-Natal....
- Chrysoritis midasChrysoritis midasThe Midas Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is found from the Roggeveld escarpment to Nuweveldberge in the West Cape....
(Pennington, 1962) – Midas Opal - Chrysoritis natalensisChrysoritis natalensisThe Natal Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is found from the East Cape, along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and inland to Zululand and the midlands....
(van Son, 1966) – Natal Opal - Chrysoritis phosphorChrysoritis phosphorThe Scarce Scarlet or Golden Flash is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.The wingspan is 24-28 mm for males and 26-31 mm for females...
(Trimen, 1866) – Scarce Scarlet or Golden Flash
The chrysantas species-group:
- Chrysoritis chrysantasChrysoritis chrysantasThe Karoo Daisy Copper is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the North Cape to the West Cape....
(Trimen, 1868)
The oreas species-group:
- Chrysoritis dicksoni (Gabriel, 1947) – Dickson's CopperDickson's CopperDickson's Copper or Dickson's Strandveld Copper is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is only known inland from Witsand in a single spot in Fynbos. Previously, it was also found north of Cape Town...
or Dickson's Strandveld Copper - Chrysoritis oreas (Trimen, 1891) – Drakensburg CopperDrakensburg CopperThe Drakensburg Copper or Drakensburg Daisy Copper is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane Grassland in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal Drakensberg foothills.The wingspan is 21-23 mm for males and 22-24 mm for females. Adults are...
or Drakensburg Daisy Copper
The pyroeis species-group:
- Chrysoritis felthamiChrysoritis felthamiFeltman's Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.The wingspan is 22-27 mm for males and 23-33 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to April. With peaks in October and February. There are several generations per year.The larvae feed on Zygophyllum...
(Trimen, 1904) – Feltman's Opal - Chrysoritis pyroeisChrysoritis pyroeisThe Sand-dune Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.The wingspan is 22-31 mm for males and 25-38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to April, with peaks from September to October and in February. There are several generations per year.The larvae feed...
(Trimen, 1864) – Sand-dune Opal
The thysbe species-group:
- Chrysoritis adonisPoecilmitis adonisThe Adonis Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the northern slopes of the Gydoberg, the Skurweberg, the Baviaanskloofberg and the Waboomberg, as well as the Elandskloof near Seweweekspoort.The wingspan is 29-36 mm for males...
(Pennington, 1962) – Adonis Opal - Chrysoritis aridusChrysoritis aridusThe Namaqua Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is found in Succulent Karoo in the North Cape....
(Pennington, 1953) – Namaqua Opal - Chrysoritis azuriusPoecilmitis azuriusThe Azur Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known from the North and West Cape....
(Swanepoel, 1975) – Azur Opal - Chrysoritis beaufortiusChrysoritis beaufortiusBeaufort Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 32–36 mm for males and 32–38 mm for females. Flight period has one brood from August to February....
(Dickson, 1966) – Beaufort's Opal - Chrysoritis beulahChrysoritis beulahBeulah's Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 30–32 mm for males and 32–34 mm for females. Flight period has multiple broods from October to February....
(Quickelberge, 1966) – Beulah's Opal - Chrysoritis blencathraeChrysoritis blencathraeThe Waaihoek Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the peaks of the Waaihoek and Sybasberg in the West Cape....
(Heath & Ball, 1992) – Waaihoek Opal - Chrysoritis braueriChrysoritis braueriBrauer's Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 20–24 mm for males and 21–26 mm for females. Flight period has two broods from August to November and February to April.Larva feed on Zygophyllum spp. and Myrsine africana. They are...
(Pennington, 1967) – Brauer's Opal - Chrysoritis brooksiChrysoritis brooksiBrook's Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 26–30 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Flight period is from September to April, occasionally as later as June....
Riley, 1938 – Brook's Opal - Chrysoritis chrysaorChrysoritis chrysaorThe Golden Copper or Burnished Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is widespread in the east.The wingspan is 22-27 mm for males and 23-30 mm for females...
(Trimen, 1864) – Golden Copper or Burnished Opal - Chrysoritis daphnePoecilmitis daphneDaphne's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern slopes of the Kammanassie Mountains in the West Cape....
(Dickson, 1975) – Daphne's Opal - Chrysoritis endymionPoecilmitis endymionThe Endymion Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.The wingspan is 30-34 mm for males and 30-38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from November to January. There is one extended generation per year.The larvae feed on Thesium and Thesidium species...
(Pennington, 1962) – Endymion Opal - Chrysoritis irenePoecilmitis ireneIrene's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in fynbos on the Du Toit's Kloof mountains and Rivieronderendberge in the West Cape....
(Pennington, 1968) – Irene's Opal - Chrysoritis nigricansChrysoritis nigricansDark Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 22–33 mm for males and 23–38 mm for females. Flight period is multi-brooded from September to April, peaking October/November and March.Larva feed on Thesium spp., Osteospermum polygaloides, and...
(Aurivillius, 1924) – Dark Opal - Chrysoritis orientalisPoecilmitis orientalisThe Eastern Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal....
(Swanepoel, 1976) – Eastern Opal - Chrysoritis palmusChrysoritis palmusThe Water Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.The wingspan is 21-29 mm for males and 25-31 mm for females. Adults of ssp. palmus are on year from September to April, with a peak in December. The peak for ssp. margueritae is January to March...
(Stoll, [1781]) – Water Opal - Chrysoritis panPoecilmitis panThe Pan Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the West Cape, the North Cape and the East Cape.The wingspan is 20-28 mm for males and 22-32 mm for females...
(Pennington, 1962) – Pan Opal - Chrysoritis pelionChrysoritis pelionMachacha Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 20–24 mm for males and 22–30 mm for females. Flight period has several broods from October to March....
(Pennington, 1953) – Machacha Opal - Chrysoritis penningtoniPoecilmitis penningtoniPennington's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the high slopes of the Amatolas in the East Cape....
(Riley, 1938) – Pennington's Opal - Chrysoritis perseusChrysoritis perseusPerseus Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 26–30 mm for females. Flight period is two broods from August to March, peaking November....
(Henning, 1977) – Perseus Opal - Chrysoritis plutusChrysoritis plutusPlutus Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 26–35 mm for females. Flight period is two broods from August to December and Jabuary to April....
(Pennington, 1967) – Plutus Opal - Chrysoritis pyramusPoecilmitis pyramusPyramus Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the northern slopes of the Swartberg, the Kammanassie Mountains and the Langeberg in the West Cape....
(Pennington, 1953) – Pyramus Opal - Chrysoritis rileyiPoecilmitis rileyiRiley's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known only from hill slopes and river flats at the east end of the Brandvlei Dam in the West Cape....
(Dickson, 1966) – Riley's Opal - Chrysoritis swanepoeliPoecilmitis swanepoeliSwanepoel's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the Swartberg Pass and Schoemanskloof, the Groot Swartberg, the Huis River Pass and Gamkaskloof in the West Cape.The wingspan is 23-26 mm for males and 24-34 mm for females....
(Dickson, 1965) – Swanepoel's Opal - Chrysoritis thysbeChrysoritis thysbeThe Opal Copper or Common Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.The wingspan is 24-32 mm for males and 23-35 mm for females...
(Linnaeus, 1764) – Opal Copper or Common Opal - Chrysoritis trimeniPoecilmitis trimeniTrimen's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the North Cape....
(Riley, 1938) – Trimen's Opal - Chrysoritis turneriChrysoritis turneriTurner's Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa.The wingspan is 22–26 mm for males and 33–40 mm for females. Adults are on year from September to April, with peaks in October and February and December Turner's Opal (Chrysoritis turneri) is a butterfly...
(Riley, 1938) – Turner's Opal - Chrysoritis uranusChrysoritis uranusUranus Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 24–30 mm for males and 25–32 mm for females. Flight period has several broods from October to April....
(Pennington, 1962) – Uranus Opal - Chrysoritis violescensChrysoritis violescensViolet Opal is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family found only in South Africa.The wingspan is 26–30 mm for males and 30–38 mm for females. Flight period is from August to December....
(Dickson, 1971) – Violet Opal
The zeuxo species-group:
- Chrysoritis coetzeriChrysoritis zonariusThe Donkey Daisy Copper or Coetzer's Daisy Copper is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, along the coast and inland from the Cape Peninsula, north-west to Paleisheuwel and Lambert’s Bay and along the hills to the West Cape.The wingspan is 18–22 mm for males and...
Dickson & Wykeham, 1994 (may be included in C. zonarius) - Chrysoritis cotrelliChrysoritis cotrelliChrysoritis cotrelli is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa. It is mostly considered a subspecies of Chrysoritis zeuxo.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
– Cotrell's Daisy Copper (may be included in C. zeuxo) - Chrysoritis zeuxoChrysoritis zeuxoThe Jitterbug Daisy Copper is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from coastal Fynbos in the West Cape, from the Cape Peninsula to the Knysna area....
(Linnaeus, 1764) – Jitterbug Daisy Copper - Chrysoritis zonariusChrysoritis zonariusThe Donkey Daisy Copper or Coetzer's Daisy Copper is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa, along the coast and inland from the Cape Peninsula, north-west to Paleisheuwel and Lambert’s Bay and along the hills to the West Cape.The wingspan is 18–22 mm for males and...
(Riley, 1938) – Donkey Daisy Copper
Formerly separated in genus, Poecilmitis:
- Poecilmitis adonisPoecilmitis adonisThe Adonis Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the northern slopes of the Gydoberg, the Skurweberg, the Baviaanskloofberg and the Waboomberg, as well as the Elandskloof near Seweweekspoort.The wingspan is 29-36 mm for males...
now C. adonis - Poecilmitis aureusPoecilmitis aureusThe Heidelberg Copper or Golden Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane Grassland in Gauteng and Mpumalanga....
now C. aureus - Poecilmitis azuriusPoecilmitis azuriusThe Azur Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known from the North and West Cape....
now C. azurius - Poecilmitis balliPoecilmitis balliPoecilmitis balli is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
now C. pyramus balli - Poecilmitis daphnePoecilmitis daphneDaphne's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern slopes of the Kammanassie Mountains in the West Cape....
now C. daphne - Poecilmitis endymionPoecilmitis endymionThe Endymion Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.The wingspan is 30-34 mm for males and 30-38 mm for females. Adults are on wing from November to January. There is one extended generation per year.The larvae feed on Thesium and Thesidium species...
now C. endymion - Poecilmitis henningiPoecilmitis henningiPoecilmitis henningi is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
now C. pan henningi - Poecilmitis hyperionPoecilmitis hyperionPoecilmitis hyperion is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
now C. swanepoeli hyperion - Poecilmitis irenePoecilmitis ireneIrene's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in fynbos on the Du Toit's Kloof mountains and Rivieronderendberge in the West Cape....
now C. irene - Poecilmitis kaplaniPoecilmitis kaplaniPoecilmitis kaplani is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
now C. beaufortius stepheni - Poecilmitis lyncurium now C. lyncurium
- Poecilmitis lyndseyae now C. thysbe bamptoni
- Poecilmitis orientalisPoecilmitis orientalisThe Eastern Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal....
now C. orientalis - Poecilmitis panPoecilmitis panThe Pan Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the West Cape, the North Cape and the East Cape.The wingspan is 20-28 mm for males and 22-32 mm for females...
now C. pan - Poecilmitis penningtoniPoecilmitis penningtoniPennington's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the high slopes of the Amatolas in the East Cape....
now C. penningtoni - Poecilmitis pyramusPoecilmitis pyramusPyramus Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the northern slopes of the Swartberg, the Kammanassie Mountains and the Langeberg in the West Cape....
now C. pyramus - Poecilmitis rileyiPoecilmitis rileyiRiley's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known only from hill slopes and river flats at the east end of the Brandvlei Dam in the West Cape....
now C. rileyi - Poecilmitis stepheniPoecilmitis stepheniPoecilmitis stepheni is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
now C. beaufortius stepheni - Poecilmitis swanepoeliPoecilmitis swanepoeliSwanepoel's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the Swartberg Pass and Schoemanskloof, the Groot Swartberg, the Huis River Pass and Gamkaskloof in the West Cape.The wingspan is 23-26 mm for males and 24-34 mm for females....
now C. swanepoeli - Poecilmitis trimeniPoecilmitis trimeniTrimen's Opal is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in the North Cape....
now C. trimeni - Poecilmitis wykehamiPoecilmitis wykehamiPoecilmitis wykehami is a species of butterfly in the Lycaenidae family. It is endemic to South Africa. It is often considered a subspecies of Chrysoritis turneri.-Source:* Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. . Downloaded on 31 July 2007....
now C. turneri wykehami