Zintha Explained

Zintha is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. It is monotypic, with the only species being Zintha hintza, the blue-eyed Pierrot, blue pied Pierrot or Hintza blue. The pied Pierrots proper are the closely related genus Tuxentius, however, and like Zintha they were formerly included in Castalius.^[1]

Description

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 24–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April.^[2]

Food plants

The larvae feed on Ziziphus species, including Z. zeyheriana and Z. mucronata.

Distribution and subspecies

This butterfly occurs in tropical eastern and southern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized:^[3]

• Zintha hintza hintza (Trimen, 1864) – South Africa to Kenya, possibly Zaire
• Zintha hintza krooni (Dickson, 1973) – Namibia and adjacent regions
• Zintha hintza resplendens (Butler, 1876) – Ethiopia and adjacent regions

References

• (2008): Tree of Life Web Project  - Zintha hintza (Trimen 1864). The Blue-eyed Pierrot. Version of 2008-MAY-19. Retrieved 2009-NOV-29.
• (2009): Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms  - Zintha. Version of 2007-MAY-20. Retrieved 2009-NOV-29.
• Seitz, A. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 73 b

Notes and References

1. Brower (2008), and see references in Savela (2007)
2. Book: Woodhall, Steve . Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa . 2005 . Cape Town, South Africa . Struik . 978-1-86872-724-7 .
3. See references in Savela (2007)