Lepidochrysops ortygia

Koppie blue
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Lepidochrysops
Species:	L. ortygia
Binomial name
Lepidochrysops ortygia (Trimen, 1887)[1]
Synonyms
Lycaena ortygia Trimen, 1887

Lepidochrysops ortygia, the koppie blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, from the hills in the Eastern Cape, north through the lower parts of Lesotho to the Free State, southern Mpumalanga and Gauteng.

The wingspan is 35–40 mm (1.4–1.6 in) for males and 33–42 mm (1.3–1.7 in) for females. Adults are on wing from October to April, with peaks in December or March depending on rains. There are possibly multiple generations per year.^[2]

The larvae feed on Selago geniculata.

References

1. Lepidochrysops at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.

• Media related to Lepidochrysops ortygia at Wikimedia Commons