Chrysoritis orientalis, the eastern opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found on the southern Drakensberg in KwaZulu-Natal.
| Chrysoritis orientalis | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Chrysoritis |
| Species: | C. orientalis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysoritis orientalis (Swanepoel, 1976)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The wingspan is 18–22 mm for males and 20–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to January, with a peak in December. There is one generation per year.[2]
The larvae feed on Thesium species. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.
References
editWikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysoritis orientalis.
Wikispecies has information related to Chrysoritis orientalis.
- ^ Cockburn, K.N.A. (2020). "Chrysoritis orientalis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T17853A168301391. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T17853A168301391.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.