Aloeides damarensis explained
Aloeides damarensis, the Damara copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae from South Africa.
Description
This butterfly populates grassy areas with bare patches, such as grassy fynbos in coastal KwaZulu-Natal to the Drakensberg, north into Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces.[1]
The wingspan is 25–32 mm for males and 28–36 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April in the southern part of the range and year-round in the north.[2]
The males of Aloeidis exhibit territorial behavior, claiming specific areas on road verges and unsurfaced roads where they can counter females and mate.[3]
Habitat and Behavior
The female lays eggs at the base of Waltheria indica. Along with being a host plant, it also serves as a nectar source for adults. Eggs are blue in color.[4]
The larvae feed on Aspalathus species, and are tended by Pheidole ants, that build colonies at the base of host plant.[5]
Subspecies
left|thumb|250px|Dorsal and ventral side of wings
- Aloeides damarensis damarensis (Western, Northern and Eastern Cape and south-western Free State)
- Aloeides damarensis mashona Tite & Dickson, 1973 (from northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West provinces)
Notes and References
- Henning . G.A. . 1993 . Revisional notes on the genus Aloeides Hübner . Metamorphosis . 4 . 144-155.
- Book: Woodhall, Steve . Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa . 2005 . Cape Town, South Africa . Struik . 978-1-86872-724-7 .
- Edge . David A. . 2005 . Life history and ecological observations on Aloeides pallida, undesribed subspecies (Lepidoptera: Lycaedinae) . Metamorphosis . 16 . 4 . 110-115.
- Heath . A. . Gardiner . A. . 2009 . Addendum to Heath et al., 2008: Oviposition behaviour and foodplant observations. . Metamorphosis . 20 . 1.
- Book: Clark, G.C. . Life Histories of the South African Lycaenid Butterflies . Dickson . C.G.C. . Purnell & Sons . 1971 . Cape Town.
