Chrysoritis rileyi, the Riley's opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known only from hill slopes and river flats at the east end of the Brandvlei Dam in the Western Cape.
| Riley's opal | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Chrysoritis |
| Species: | C. rileyi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Chrysoritis rileyi (Dickson, 1966)
| |
| Synonyms | |
| |
The wingspan is 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) for males and 32–38 mm (1.3–1.5 in) for females. Adults are on wing from September to April, with peaks from October to November and in March.[2]
The larvae feed on Thesium and Zygophyllum species. They are attended to by Crematogaster peringueyi ants.
References
edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chrysoritis rileyi.
Wikispecies has information related to Chrysoritis rileyi.
- ^ Selb, H.E.T. (2020). "Chrysoritis rileyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T17844A168302306. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T17844A168302306.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.