Chrysoritis phosphor explained

Chrysoritis phosphor, the scarce scarlet or golden flash, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. The species was first described by Roland Trimen in 1866.^[1] It is found in South Africa.

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 26–31 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round, but mainly in November and April.^[2]

The associated ant species is unknown but is suspected to be an arboreal Crematogaster species.^[3]

Subspecies

• Chrysoritis phosphor phosphor (Eastern Cape)
• Chrysoritis phosphor borealis (Quickelberge, 1972) (KwaZulu-Natal midlands and Mpumalanga)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Savela . Markku . Chrysoritis phosphor (Trimen, 1866) . Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms . September 16, 2019.
2. Book: Woodhall, Steve . Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa . 2005 . Cape Town, South Africa . Struik . 978-1-86872-724-7.
3. Web site: Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Aphnaeini (part 1) . June 28, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140819083848/http://atbutterflies.com/downloads/lycaenidae_aphnaeini_1.doc . August 19, 2014 . dead.