Erikssonia acraeina
Encyclopedia
Erikssonia acraeina is a species of butterfly
in the Lycaenidae
family. It was long thought to be monotypic
within the genus Erikssonia. It is found in the southern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, southern and south-eastern Angola
and western and north-western Zambia
(Mongu, Kataba, Mundwiji Plain).
The South African population on the Waterberg is now treated as Erikssonia edgei
.
Adults are on wing through most of the summer months, having been recorded from October to April, with a peak in activity from January to March.
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...
in 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 was long thought to be monotypic
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
within the genus Erikssonia. It is found in the southern parts of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, southern and south-eastern Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
and western and north-western Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
(Mongu, Kataba, Mundwiji Plain).
The South African population on the Waterberg is now treated as Erikssonia edgei
Erikssonia edgei
The Tilodi Copper or Waterberg Copper is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa where it is known only from the type locality, the north-facing base of a peak on the edge of a wide flat valley in the Waterberg Mountain Bushveld.The forewing length is 12.3-16.8 mm for...
.
Adults are on wing through most of the summer months, having been recorded from October to April, with a peak in activity from January to March.
External links
Source
- Gimenez Dixon, M. 1996. Erikssonia acraeina. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 31 July 2007.