Geranium Bronze
Encyclopedia
The Geranium Bronze or Brun des pélargoniums in French (Cacyreus marshalli) is a butterfly
in the family Lycaenidae
.
The wingspan
is 15–23 mm for males and 18–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas, but usually from August to May in South Africa. At higher altitudes adults are on wing in December and January.
It is brown with a fine black edge interlaced with white and a very thin tail. The underside is grey-brown with dark bands.
The caterpillar feeds on cultivated Pelargonium
geraniums.
The species is native of South Africa
. It has, however, been introduced (deliberately or accidentally) to Mediterranean Europe (initially the Balaeric Islands), where it has spread as a pest of cultivated Pelargonium
geraniums, which also originate in South Africa. It was first recorded in the United Kingdom in Sussex
in 1997 (also on geranium), and has been recorded several times since. In the UK, all sightings should be reported to DEFRA. It appeared in Malta
on March/April 2007. The first location that established itself was at San Gwann but in a few months took all over the island. Recently it has also been spotted in Mġarr
and Xagħra in Gozo
.
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 family Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
.
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 15–23 mm for males and 18–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas, but usually from August to May in South Africa. At higher altitudes adults are on wing in December and January.
It is brown with a fine black edge interlaced with white and a very thin tail. The underside is grey-brown with dark bands.
The caterpillar feeds on cultivated Pelargonium
Pelargonium
Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both Geranium...
geraniums.
The species is native 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...
. It has, however, been introduced (deliberately or accidentally) to Mediterranean Europe (initially the Balaeric Islands), where it has spread as a pest of cultivated Pelargonium
Pelargonium
Pelargonium is a genus of flowering plants which includes about 200 species of perennials, succulents, and shrubs, commonly known as scented geraniums or storksbills. Confusingly, Geranium is the correct botanical name of a separate genus of related plants often called Cranesbills. Both Geranium...
geraniums, which also originate in South Africa. It was first recorded in the United Kingdom in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
in 1997 (also on geranium), and has been recorded several times since. In the UK, all sightings should be reported to DEFRA. It appeared in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
on March/April 2007. The first location that established itself was at San Gwann but in a few months took all over the island. Recently it has also been spotted in Mġarr
Mġarr (Gozo)
Mġarr is town and harbour at the east end of Gozo, Malta.-History:The town of Mġarr grew up around the shallow harbour which shares its name. Ferry services to Malta were in operation by 1241, and fishing was already established...
and Xagħra in Gozo
Gozo
Gozo is a small island of the Maltese archipelago in the Mediterranean Sea. The island is part of the Southern European country of Malta; after the island of Malta itself, it is the second-largest island in the archipelago...
.