Chrysoritis aureus, the Heidelberg copper or golden opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane grassland in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces.
| Heidelberg copper | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Chrysoritis |
| Species: | C. aureus
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| Binomial name | |
| Chrysoritis aureus van Son, 1966
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| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round with peaks in December and March.[2]
The larvae feed on Clutia pulchella varieties. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.
References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysoritis aureus.
Wikispecies has information related to Chrysoritis aureus.
- ^ Henning, G.A. (2020). "Chrysoritis aureus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T17840A168307918. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T17840A168307918.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.