Biology:Anthene definita

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Short description: Species of butterfly

Anthene definita
Common hairtail (Anthene definita definita).jpg
Anthene definita definita
Scientific classification edit
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Anthene
Species:
A. definita
Binomial name
Anthene definita
(Butler, 1899)[1]
Synonyms
  • Lycaenesthes definita Butler, 1899
  • Lycaenesthes nigrocaudata Pagenstecher, 1902
  • Lycaenesthes ligures var. liguroides Strand, 1911
  • Lycaenesthes fasciata Ungemach, 1932

Anthene definita, the common ciliate blue or common hairtail, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa.

The wingspan is 21–27 mm for males and 24–29 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round in warmer areas, with a peak in summer.[2]

The larvae feed on Allophylus africanus, Pappea capensis, Mangifera indica, Myrica aethiopica, Myrica sericea, Acacia karroo, Acacia cyanophylla, Acacia saligna, Paraserianthus lophanta, Schotia, Bersama and Kalanchoe species. The larvae are associated with ants of the genus Iridomyrmyx.[3]

Subspecies

  • Anthene definita definita (Guinea (Nimbas), Ivory Coast, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo: Ituri, North Kivu, Lualaba and Shaba, Uganda, central and western Kenya, to northern Zambia, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Eswatini, South Africa: Limpopo Province, Mpumalanga, North West Province, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape Province and Western Cape Province)
  • Anthene definita nigrocaudata (Pagenstecher, 1902) (Ethiopia)

References

  1. Anthene 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. 
  3. "Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Lycaenesthini". http://atbutterflies.com/downloads/lycaenidae_lycaenesthini.doc. 

Wikidata ☰ Q4771640 entry