Euchrysops barkeri, the Barker's smoky blue or Barker's Cupid, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
| Barker's smoky blue | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Euchrysops |
| Species: | E. barkeri
|
| Binomial name | |
| Euchrysops barkeri | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Description
editThe wingspan is 26–32 mm for males and 27–33 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round, but are most common from November to July in South Africa.[2]
Habitat and behavior
editIt is found in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and from Sierra Leone to Tanzania. In South Africa it is found from the East Cape along the KwaZulu-Natal coast and in Limpopo province.
Life cycle
editThe female oviposits at the stem of Sphenostylis angustifolia (Fabaceae). The egg is pale sky-blue wih a sparkling pearlescent lustre.[3]
The larvae feed on Crotalaria and Rhynchosia species and Vigna unguiculata.
References
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euchrysops barkeri.
Wikispecies has information related to Euchrysops barkeri.
- ^ Euchrysops 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.
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2009). "A new food plant record for Euchrysops barkeri (Trimen, 1893) Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae)" (PDF). Metamosphosis. 20 (1). The Lepidopterists' Society of Africa: 5.