Zizeeria knysna

Zizeeria knysna, the dark grass blue or African grass blue, is a species of blue butterfly (Lycaenidae) found in Africa, on Cyprus and the Iberian Peninsula.

African grass blue
in Uganda
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Zizeeria
Species:	Z. knysna
Binomial name
Zizeeria knysna (Trimen 1862)[1]
Synonyms
Lycaena knysna Trimen, 1862 Papilio lysimon Hübner, 1803 Zizera lysimon Zizeeria lysimon

Sometimes mistakenly called Zizeeria lysimon (Hübner), that species name is invalid as it is preoccupied by Papilio lisimon Stoll, [1790], a butterfly in the family Riodinidae.[2]

The wingspan is 18–23 mm for males and 21–26 mm for females.[3] The butterfly flies nearly year-round.

The larvae feed on Medicago, Melilotus, Acanthyllis, Armeria delicatula, Polygonum equisetiforme, Tribulus terrestris and Oxalis.

Gallery

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References

1. "Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Polyommatini (part 1)". Archived from the original on 2013-12-13. Retrieved 2012-07-10.
2. Williams, M.Afrotropical Butterflies Archived 2010-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
3. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.

External links

• Butterflies of Europe
• Zizeeria at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms