Eicochrysops messapus explained

Eicochrysops messapus, the cupreous blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.^[1] It is found in Africa. In South Africa it is rare and only known from the northern part of the Limpopo province and northern KwaZulu-Natal.

The wingspan is 17–22 mm for males and 17–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round in warmer areas, with peaks in October and March. In cooler areas it is not found from April to September.^[2]

The larvae probably feed on Thesium species.

Subspecies

thumb|left|E. m. mahallakoeana, mud-puddling

• E. m. messapus — South Africa: Western Cape to Free State provinces
• E. m. mahallakoeana (Wallengren, 1857) — South Africa: northern Eastern Cape to KwaZulu-Natal, northern Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West provinces
• E. m. nandiana (Bethune-Baker, 1906) — Kenya, Uganda
• E. m. sebagadis (Guérin-Méneville, 1849) — highlands of Ethiopia

Notes and References

1. Web site: ADW: Eicochrysops messapus: CLASSIFICATION.
2. Book: Woodhall, Steve . Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa . 2005 . Cape Town, South Africa . Struik . 978-1-86872-724-7 .