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Aloeides depicta
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Aloeides
Species:	A. depicta
Binomial name
Aloeides depicta Tite & Dickson, 1968

Aloeides depicta, the depicta copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from fynbos and Nama Karoo along the mountains from Matjiesfontein to Gydo Mountain and the Eastern Cape.

Description

The wingspan is 26–29 mm (1.0–1.1 in) for males and 29–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in) females. Adults are on wing from September to June. There are continuous generations in warmer months.

The hindwing of A. depicta is mostly convex. Physical traits resemble those of A. apicalis and A. margaretae.

Habitat and behavior

These butterflies inhabit grassy areas with bare patches, such as grassy fynbos in the eastern cape, or highvield grasslands in other provinces.

Males on this genus exhibit territorial behavior, claiming specific unsurfaced areas where they can counter females and mate.

Life cycle

Larval Morphology

Variation among larvae within the same colony is noted. The final instar larvae measure around 16mm. The head region is black, with a Y-shaped pale stripe down the centre above mandible, and small yellow patches on each side of it. Larval body contains 11 segments.

The first segment of the larval body has a dark plate which lightens towards the edges, ending on a dark mark on the outer edge. A pair of faintly red marked spiracles are found on each side of the plate. The body is blue-green in color and a red double stripe runs down the middle of the back of first segment to the last. They are covered with bold black setae that grow longer towards the rear and under spiracles.

The last (eleventh) segment has a flattened appearance, featuring white-centered black tubercles that have non-spiny hairs. This segment contains irregular reddish black markings. There is an absence of honey glands in A. depicta larvae. Final segment of A. depicta larvae is pale blue in color. These are relatively shorter than other species for example A. margaretae, due to not being reared by ants.

The larvae feed on Aspalathus species. They shelter under rocks close to their host plant. The ant species noted as host for these are Lepisiota capensis.

References

1. Henning, G.A. (2020) . "Aloeides depicta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161281418A175062119. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161281418A175062119.en. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
2. Aloeides at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
3. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
4. Henning, G.A. (1993). "Revisional notes on the genus Aloeides Hübner". Metamorphosis. 4: 144–155.
5. Edge, David A. (2005). "Life history and ecological observations on Aloeides pallida, undescribed subspecies (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)". Metamorphosis. 16 (4): 110–115.
6. pringle, E.L. (1998). "Pringle, E. L. (1998). Variation in the larvae of Aloeides depicta Tite & Dickson". Lepidopterists' Society of Africa. 173.
7. Heath, A.; Claassens, A. (2020). "Illustrated descriptions of juvenile stages of an Aloeides species close to margaretae Tite & Dickson, including comparisons with both A. apicalis Tite & Dickson and A. depicta Tite & Dickson". Metamorphosis. 31 (1): 72–78. doi:10.4314/met.v31i1.14.
8. Clark, G.C.; Dickson, C.G.C. (1971). Life Histories of the South African Lycaenid Butterflies. Cape Town: Purnell & Sons.
9. Heath, A.; Claassens, A. (2020). "Illustrated descriptions of juvenile stages of an Aloeides species close to margaretae Tite & Dickson, including comparisons with both A. apicalis Tite & Dickson and A. depicta Tite & Dickson". Metamorphosis. 31 (1): 72–78.

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• IUCN Red List least concern species
• Butterflies described in 1968
• Aloeides
• Endemic butterflies of South Africa
• Aphnaeinae stubs