| Dusky copper | |
|---|---|
| |
| In the Free State, South Africa | |
| 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. taikosama |
| Binomial name | |
| Aloeides taikosama (Wallengren, 1857) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Aloeides taikosama, the dusky copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. In South Africa it is found from the eastern Western Cape to the Eastern Cape, the Free State, northern KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West and the eastern Northern Cape.
Description
The wingspan is 22–27 mm (0.87–1.06 in) for males and 27–33 mm (1.1–1.3 in) for females. Adults are on wing from August to April, with peaks in November and March. There are multiple generations per year.
Habitat and behavior
The butterflies of this group inhabit grassy areas with bare patches, such as grassy fynbos in the western and eastern cape, or highvield grasslands in other provinces.
Life cycle
The species is holometabolous. Oviposotion takes place in favorable weather conditions around mid December. The eggs are relatively large for a lycaenid butterfly, and are spherical in shape and pale in color.
The males of Aloeidis exhibit territorial behavior, claiming specific areas on road verges and unsurfaced roads where they can counter females and mate.
The species of Aloeides genus have a preference for host Aspalathus plants.
References
- Henning, G.A. (2020) . "Aloeides taikosama". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161281804A175062226. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161281804A175062226.en.
- Aloeides at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
- Henning, G.A. (1993). "Revisional Notes on the Genus Aloeides Hübner". Metamorphosis. 4: 144–155.
- ^ Edge, David A. (2005). "Life history and ecological observations on Aloeides pallida, undescribed subspecies (Lepidoptera: Lycaedinae)". Metamorphosis. 16 (4): 110–115.
- Clark, G.C.; Dickson, C.G.C. (1971). "Life histories of the South African lyacenid butterflies". (No Title): 272.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Zeritis orthrus | |
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