Aloeides aranda
Encyclopedia
The Aranda Copper is a butterfly
of the Lycaenidae
family. It is found in the whole of South Africa
, except in high montane forests and the arid western areas. It is also found in Zimbabwe
.
The wingspan
is 20-29 mm for males and 27-31 mm females. Adults are on wing from September to April in warm areas (with peaks in October and February) and in October and February in two generations in cooler areas.
The larvae feed on Aspalathus
species. They are attended to by Pheidole capensis ants.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
of the Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
family. It is found in the whole of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, except in high montane forests and the arid western areas. It is also found in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
.
The wingspan
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
is 20-29 mm for males and 27-31 mm females. Adults are on wing from September to April in warm areas (with peaks in October and February) and in October and February in two generations in cooler areas.
The larvae feed on Aspalathus
Aspalathus
Aspalathus is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. The yellow flowers and spiny habit of some species have suggested a resemblance to Ulex europaeus, the thorny "English gorse" Accordingly "Cape Gorse" has been proposed as a common name although the resemblance is largely...
species. They are attended to by Pheidole capensis ants.
Subspecies
- Aloeides aranda aranda (South Africa)
- Aloeides aranda marshalli Aurivillius (northern and eastern Zimbabwe)