Zizeeria knysna

African grass blue
in Uganda
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Euarthropoda
Class:Insecta
Order:Lepidoptera
Family:Lycaenidae
Genus:Zizeeria
Species: Z. knysna
Binomial name
Zizeeria knysna
(Trimen 1862)[1]
Synonyms
  • Lycaena knysna Trimen, 1862
  • Papilio lysimon Hübner, 1803
  • Zizera lysimon
  • Zizeeria lysimon

Zizeeria knysna, the dark grass blue or African grass blue, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Africa, on Cyprus and the Iberian Peninsula.

Sometimes mistakenly called Zizeeria lysimon (Hübner), that species name is invalid as it is preoccupied by Papilio lisimon Stoll, [1790], a butterfly in the family Riodinidae.[2]

The wingspan is 18–23 mm for males and 21–26 mm for females.[3] The butterfly flies nearly year-round.

The larvae feed on Medicago, Melilotus, Acanthyllis, Armeria delicatula, Polygonum equisetiforme, Tribulus terrestris and Oxalis.

References

  1. ↑ Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Polyommatini (part 1)
  2. ↑ Williams, M.Afrotropical Butterflies
  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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