Iolaus silas, the southern sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae which is endemic to South Africa.
| Southern sapphire | |
|---|---|
| |
| |
| Female and male | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Iolaus |
| Species: | I. silas
|
| Binomial name | |
| Iolaus silas | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Range
editIt occurs from the southeastern Nama Karoo in the Eastern Cape (Somerset East and Bedford areas), and along the eastern littoral to northern KwaZulu-Natal.[3] It is present in spekboomveld, coastal savannah and lowland forest.
Description and biology
editThe wingspan is 32–37 mm for males and 34–41 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas and from September to January in the southern part of its range.[3] The larvae feed on various mistletoes, namely Moquiniella rubra, Erianthemum dregei and Loranthus usuiensis.
References
edit- ^ Pringle, E.L. (2020) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Iolaus silas". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161342145A175074166. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161342145A175074166.en. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Iolaus at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ a b Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
External links
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Iolaus silas.
Wikispecies has information related to Iolaus silas.
 | This Theclinae-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |