Iolaus diametra

Iolaus diametra
Seitz Fauna Africana Taf69 (line a)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Iolaus
Species:
I. diametra
Binomial name
Iolaus diametra
(Karsch, 1895)[2]
Synonyms
  • Epamera diametra Karsch, 1895
  • Epamera diametra littoralis Congdon & Collins, 1998
  • Epamera diametra zanzibarensis Congdon & Collins, 1998

Iolaus diametra, the natal yellow-banded sapphire, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Africa, roughly from South Africa to Ethiopia.

The wingspan is 26–28 mm for males and 27–29 mm for females. Adults are on wing from July to December with a peak in October in South Africa. There is one generation per year.[3]

The larvae of subspecies I. d. natalica feed on Actinanthella wylliei. Other recorded food plants are Oliverella hildebrandtii and Englerina woodfordioides.[4]

Subspecies

  • I. d. diametra (northern Tanzania, eastern Kenya, southern Ethiopia)
  • I. d. natalica Vári, 1976 (northern KwaZulu-Natal)
  • I. d. littoralis (Congdon & Collins, 1998) (coast of Kenya, coast of Tanzania)
  • I. d. zanzibarensis (Congdon & Collins, 1998) (Tanzania: Zanzibar)

References

  1. ^ Westrip, J.R.S. (2021). "Iolaus diametra". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T62099A165245718. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T62099A165245718.en. Retrieved 18 November 2021.
  2. ^ Iolaus at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  3. ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
  4. ^ "Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Subtribe Iolaina". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
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