Aloeides aranda, the Aranda copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the whole of South Africa, except in high montane forests and arid western areas. It is also found in Zimbabwe.
| Aranda copper | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Aloeides |
| Species: | A. aranda
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| Binomial name | |
| Aloeides aranda (Wallengren, 1857)[2]
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| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 20–29 mm for males and 27–31 mm females. Adults are on wing from September to April in warm areas (with peaks in October and February) and in October and February in two generations in cooler areas.[3]
The larvae feed on Aspalathus species, a genus of legumes. They are attended to by Pheidole capensis ants.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aloeides aranda.
Wikispecies has information related to Aloeides aranda.
- ^ Henning, G.A.; Westrip, J.R.S. (2020). "Aloeides aranda". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161275979A161275987. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T161275979A161275987.en. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Aloeides at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.