Aloeides aranda

Aloeides aranda, the Aranda copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. 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.

Aranda copper
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Aloeides
Species:
A. aranda
Binomial name
Aloeides aranda
Synonyms
  • Cygaritis aranda Wallengren, 1857
  • Zeritis mars Trimen, 1862
  • Aloeides zilka Grose-Smith, 1900
  • Zeritis rougemonti Oberthür, 1909
  • Phasis marshalli Aurivillius, 1923
  • Aloeides aranda marshalli
A male Aranda copper in highveld grassland, Free State, South Africa

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.[2]

The larvae feed on Aspalathus species, a genus of legumes. They are attended to by Pheidole capensis ants.

References
  1. Aloeides at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, S. Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa, Cape Town: Struik Publishers, 2005.


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