Lepidochrysops loveni is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Zambia and possibly Malawi and Angola.[2] The habitat consists of open Brachystegia woodland at altitudes between 1,200 and 1,500 metres, as well as grass-topped low hill ranges.

Lepidochrysops loveni
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Lepidochrysops
Species:
L. loveni
Binomial name
Lepidochrysops loveni
Synonyms
  • Cupido loveni Aurivillius, 1922
  • Neochrysops parsimon ab. albicans Hulstaert, 1924
  • Cupido celaeus var. abyssiniensis Strand, 1911
  • Catochrysops celaeus kivuensis Joicey & Talbot, 1921
  • Euchrysops parsimon oculus Ungemach, 1932

Adults are on wing from October to December.

The larvae feed on Ocimum and Salvia species.

Subspecies

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  • L. l. loveni (Uganda, western and central Kenya, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Lualaba, north-western Tanzania, Zambia, possibly Malawi and Angola)
  • L. l. abyssiniensis (Strand, 1911) (Ethiopia)
  • L. l. kivuensis (Joicey & Talbot, 1921) (Democratic Republic of the Congo: northern Rift Valley to Kivu and the plains east of Lake Kivu and Lake Edward, Rwanda)
  • L. l. oculus (Ungemach, 1932) (Ethiopia)

References

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  1. ^ Lepidochrysops at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and some other life forms
  2. ^ Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Polyommatini (part 3)