Chrysoritis aureus

Chrysoritis aureus, the Heidelberg copper or golden opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane grassland in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces.

Heidelberg copper
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Chrysoritis
Species:	C. aureus
Binomial name
Chrysoritis aureus van Son, 1966
Synonyms
Poecilmitis aureus (van Son, 1966) Chrysoritis aureus

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round with peaks in December and March.^[2]

The larvae feed on Clutia pulchella varieties. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.