Aloeides damarensis

Aloeides damarensis, the Damara copper, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae from Southern Africa.

Damara copper
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Aloeides
Species:	A. damarensis
Binomial name
Aloeides damarensis (Trimen, 1891)[2]
Synonyms
Zeritis damarensis Trimen, 1891

Description

This butterfly populates grassy areas with bare patches, such as grassy fynbos in coastal KwaZulu-Natal to the Drakensberg, north into Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces.^[3]

The wingspan is 25–32 mm for males and 28–36 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April in the southern part of the range and year-round in the north.^[4]

The males of Aloeidis exhibit territorial behavior, claiming specific areas on road verges and unsurfaced roads where they can counter females and mate.^[5]

A. damarensis show variable coloration and pattern, ranging from medium to light orange specimens with reduced upperside black markings.^[6]

Habitat and Behavior

The female lays eggs at the base of Waltheria indica. Along with being a host plant, it also serves as a nectar source for adults. Eggs are blue in color.^[7]

The larvae feed on Aspalathus species, and are tended by Pheidole ants, that build colonies at the base of host plant.^[8][7]

Subspecies

Dorsal and ventral side of wings

• Aloeides damarensis damarensis South Africa (Western, Northern and Eastern Cape and south-western Free State), Namibia.
• Aloeides damarensis mashona Tite & Dickson, 1973 — South Africa (northern KwaZulu-Natal to Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo and North West provinces), Zimbabwe, Botswana, Mozambique.