Chrysoritis zonarius
Encyclopedia
The Donkey Daisy Copper or Coetzer's Daisy Copper (Chrysoritis zonarius) 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 20–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to November. There is one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Chrysanthemoides incana
. They are attended to by Crematogaster peringueyi
ants.
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...
of 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. It is found in 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...
, 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
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 18–22 mm for males and 20–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to November. There is one generation per year.
The larvae feed on Chrysanthemoides incana
Chrysanthemoides
Chrysanthemoides is one of eight genera of the Calenduleae, with a center of diversity in South Africa. The genera contains only two species, but is known for the invasive "Bitou Bush" Chrysanthemoides monilifera. Studies of this genus have determined that there is a large amount of genetic...
. They are attended to by Crematogaster peringueyi
Crematogaster
Crematogaster is an ecologically diverse genus of ants found worldwide, which are characterised by a distinctive heart-shaped gaster , which gives one of their common names, Valentine Ant. It is the only genus of the tribus Crematogastrini. Most of species are arboreal...
ants.