White spotted sapphire
| White spotted sapphire | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Iolaus |
| Species: | I. lulua
|
| Binomial name | |
| Iolaus lulua (Riley, 1944)
| |
| Synonyms | |
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The white spotted sapphire (Iolaus lulua) is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is restricted to the forested coastal dunes of northern KwaZulu-Natal and sandy lowland forests from False Bay to Kosi Bay, inland to the Ndumu and Lebombo foothills. The habitat consists of coastal forests and thick bush.
The wingspan is 26–30 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing from October to December and in March. There are two generations per year.[2]
The larvae feed on Helixanthera woodii, Helixanthera kirkii and Oncocalyx bolusii.[3]
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to White spotted sapphire.
- ^ Gimenez Dixon, M. (1996). "Iolaus lulua". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T10843A3221767. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T10843A3221767.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
- ^ Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Subtribe Iolaina
