- Source: Chrysoritis nigricans
Chrysoritis nigricans, the dark opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found only in South Africa.
The wingspan is 22–33 mm for males and 23–38 mm for females. Flight period is multi-brooded from September to April, peaking October/November and March.
Larvae feed on Thesium species, Osteospermum polygaloides, and Zygophyllum species. They are associated with ants of the genus Crematogaster.
Subspecies
Chrysoritis nigricans nigricans (South Africa: Western Cape province)
Chrysoritis nigricans zwartbergae (Dickson, 1982) (South Africa: Western Cape province)
Chrysoritis nigricans rubrescens Heath & Pringle, 2007 (South Africa: Western Cape province)
References
Media related to Chrysoritis nigricans at Wikimedia Commons
