Chrysoritis natalensis

Chrysoritis natalensis, the Natal opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is found from the Eastern Cape, along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal and inland to Zululand and the midlands.

Chrysoritis natalensis
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 2.3)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Chrysoritis
Species:	C. natalensis
Binomial name
Chrysoritis natalensis (van Son, 1966)[2]
Synonyms
Poecilmitis natalensis van Son, 1966

The wingspan is 24–30 mm for males and 28–34 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round with peaks in November and February.^[3]

The larvae feed on Chrysanthemoides monilifera and Cotyledon orbiculata. They are associated with ants of the genus Crematogaster.