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Chrysoritis Nigricans
''Chrysoritis nigricans'', the dark opal, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found only in South Africa. The wingspan is 22–33 mm for males and 23–38 mm for females. Flight period is multi-brooded from September to April, peaking October/November and March. Larvae feed on ''Thesium'' species, ''Osteospermum polygaloides'', and ''Zygophyllum ''Zygophyllum'' is the type genus of the flowering plant family Zygophyllaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words ζυγόν (''zygon''), meaning "double", and φυλλον (''phyllon''), meaning "leaf". It refers to the leaves, ...'' species. They are associated with ants of the genus '' Crematogaster''. Subspecies *''Chrysoritis nigricans nigricans'' (South Africa: Western Cape province) *''Chrysoritis nigricans zwartbergae'' (Dickson, 1982) (South Africa: Western Cape province) *''Chrysoritis nigricans rubrescens'' Heath & Pringle, 2007 (South Africa: Western Cape province) References * nigri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Per Olof Christopher Aurivillius
Per Olof Christopher Aurivillius (15 January 1843 – 20 July 1928) was a Swedish entomologist. Life Christopher Aurivillius was born at Forsa, Sweden. He was the director of the Natural History Museum in Stockholm and he specialised in Coleoptera and Lepidoptera. He was, for a long time, the secretary of the Royal Swedish Academy of Science . His brother was the zoologist Carl Wilhelm Samuel Aurivillius (1854–1899) and his son the zoologist Sven Magnus Aurivillius (1892–1928). He was the author of Part 39 Cerambycidae: Cerambycinae (1912) and Parts 73 and 74. Cerambycidae: Lamiinae (1922, 1923) in: S. Schenkling (ed.), ''Coleopterorum Catalogus''. W. Junk, Berlin, 1000 + pages. Also ''Rhopalocera Aethiopica'' (1898), major contributions to Adalbert Seitz's ''Die Großschmetterlinge der Erde'' Band 13: Abt. 2, Die exotischen Großschmetterlinge, Die afrikanischen Tagfalter, 1925 and many papers on the Lepidoptera of Africa and ''Über sekundäre Geschlechtscharaktere nord ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Butterfly
Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The group comprises the large superfamily (zoology), superfamily Papilionoidea, which contains at least one former group, the skippers (formerly the superfamily "Hesperioidea"), and the most recent analyses suggest it also contains the moth-butterflies (formerly the superfamily "Hedyloidea"). Butterfly fossils date to the Paleocene, about 56 million years ago. Butterflies have a four-stage life cycle, as like most insects they undergo Holometabolism, complete metamorphosis. Winged adults lay eggs on the food plant on which their larvae, known as caterpillars, will feed. The caterpillars grow, sometimes very rapidly, and when fully developed, pupate in a chrysalis. When metamorphosis is complete, the pupal skin splits, the adult insect climbs o ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae is the second-largest family of butterflies (behind Nymphalidae, brush-footed butterflies), with over 6,000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies. They constitute about 30% of the known butterfly species. The family comprises seven subfamilies, including the blues (Polyommatinae), the coppers (Lycaeninae), the hairstreaks (Theclinae), and the harvesters (Miletinae). Description, food, and life cycle Adults are small, under 5 cm usually, and brightly coloured, sometimes with a metallic gloss. Larvae are often flattened rather than cylindrical, with glands that may produce secretions that attract and subdue ants. Their cuticles tend to be thickened. Some larvae are capable of producing vibrations and low sounds that are transmitted through the substrates they inhabit. They use these sounds to communicate with ants.Pierce, N. E.; Braby, M. F.; Heath, A.; Lohman, D. J.; Mathew, J.; Rand, D. B. & Travassos, M. A. (2002)"The eco ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countries of Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe; and to the east and northeast by Mozambique and Eswatini. It also completely enclaves the country Lesotho. It is the southernmost country on the mainland of the Old World, and the second-most populous country located entirely south of the equator, after Tanzania. South Africa is a biodiversity hotspot, with unique biomes, plant and animal life. With over 60 million people, the country is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of . South Africa has three capital cities, with the executive, judicial and legislative branches of government based in Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town respectively. The largest city is Johannesburg. About 80% of the population are Black South Afri ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wingspan
The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird. The term wingspan, more technically extent, is also used for other winged animals such as pterosaurs, bats, insects, etc., and other aircraft such as ornithopters. In humans, the term wingspan also refers to the arm span, which is distance between the length from one end of an individual's arms (measured at the fingertips) to the other when raised parallel to the ground at shoulder height at a 90º angle. Former professional basketball player Manute Bol stood at and owned one of the largest wingspans at . Wingspan of aircraft The wingspan of an aircraft is always measured in a straight line, from wingtip to wingtip, independently of wing shape or sweep. Implications for aircraft design and anima ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Thesium
''Thesium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Santalaceae. It is particularly well represented in South Africa. The following species are recognised by ''The Plant List'': *'' Thesium acuminatum'' A.W. Hill *''Thesium acutissimum'' A. DC. *'' Thesium aellenianum'' Lawalrée *'' Thesium affine'' Schltr. *''Thesium aggregatum'' A.W. Hill *'' Thesium alatum'' Hilliard & B.L. Burtt *'' Thesium albomontanum'' Compton *''Thesium alpinum'' L. *'' Thesium amicorum'' Lawalrée *''Thesium andongense'' Hiern *'' Thesium angolense'' Pilg. *''Thesium angulosum'' DC. *'' Thesium annulatum'' A.W. Hill *'' Thesium annuum'' Lawalrée *'' Thesium aphyllum'' Mart. ''ex'' A. DC. *''Thesium archeri'' Compton *''Thesium arvense'' Horv. *''Thesium asperifolium'' A.W. Hill *''Thesium asterias'' A.W. Hill *''Thesium atrum'' A.W.Hill *''Thesium auriculatum'' Vandas *''Thesium australe'' R. Br. *''Thesium bangweolense'' R.E. Fr. *''Thesium bathyschistum'' Schltr. *''Thesium bavarum'' Schrank *'' ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Osteospermum
''Osteospermum'' , is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower/daisy family Asteraceae. They are known as the daisybushes or African daisies. ''Osteospermum'' used to belong to the genus ''Dimorphotheca'', but only the annual species remain in that genus; the perennials belong to ''Osteospermum''. The genus ''Osteospermum'' is also closely related to the small genus ''Chrysanthemoides'', such as ''C. incana'' and '' C. monilifera''. Names The scientific name is derived from the Greek ''osteon'' (bone) and Latin ''spermum'' (seed). It has been given several common names: African daisy, South African daisy, Cape daisy and blue-eyed daisy. Description Their alternate (rarely opposite) leaves are green, but some variegated forms exist. The leaf form is lanceolate. The leaf margin is entire, but hardy types are toothed. The daisy-like composite flower consists of disc florets and ray florets, growing singly at the end of ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Osteospermum Polygaloides
''Osteospermum'' , is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the Calenduleae, one of the smaller tribes of the sunflower/daisy family Asteraceae. They are known as the daisybushes or African daisies. ''Osteospermum'' used to belong to the genus ''Dimorphotheca'', but only the annual species remain in that genus; the perennials belong to ''Osteospermum''. The genus ''Osteospermum'' is also closely related to the small genus ''Chrysanthemoides'', such as ''C. incana'' and '' C. monilifera''. Names The scientific name is derived from the Greek ''osteon'' (bone) and Latin ''spermum'' (seed). It has been given several common names: African daisy, South African daisy, Cape daisy and blue-eyed daisy. Description Their alternate (rarely opposite) leaves are green, but some variegated forms exist. The leaf form is lanceolate. The leaf margin is entire, but hardy types are toothed. The daisy-like composite flower consists of disc florets and ray florets, growing singly at the end ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Zygophyllum
''Zygophyllum'' is the type genus of the flowering plant family Zygophyllaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek words ζυγόν (''zygon''), meaning "double", and φυλλον (''phyllon''), meaning "leaf". It refers to the leaves, each of which have two leaflets. The genus is distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, central Asia and Australia. Molecular phylogenetic analysis suggested that as previously circumscribed, ''Zygophyllum'' was not monophyletic, and the genus was split among a number of other genera, including '' Augea'', ''Fagonia'', ''Roepera'' and '' Tetraena''. Species In accordance with International Plant Names Index, genus ''Zygophyllum'' currently has 117 accepted species: *''Zygophyllum acerosum'' (Boiss.) Christenh. & Byng *''Zygophyllum aegyptium'' Hosny *''Zygophyllum album'' L.f. *''Zygophyllum applanatum'' Van Zyl *''Zygophyllum arabicum'' (L.) Christenh. & Byng *''Zygophyllum atriplicoides'' Fisch. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Crematogaster
''Crematogaster'' is an ecologically diverse genus of ants found worldwide, which are characterised by a distinctive heart-shaped gaster (abdomen), which gives them one of their common names, the Saint Valentine ant. Members of this genus are also known as cocktail ants because of their habit of raising their abdomens when alarmed. Most species are arboreal (tree-dwelling). These ants are sometimes known as acrobat ants. Acrobat ants acquire food largely through predation on other insects, such as wasps.Schatz, Bertrand, and Martine Hossaert-Mckey. "Interactions of the Ant Crematogaster Scutellaris with the Fig/fig Wasp Mutualism." Ecological Entomology 28.3 (2003): 359-68. Print. They use venom to stun their prey and a complex trail-laying process to lead comrades to food sources. Like most ants, ''Crematogaster'' species reproduce by partaking in nuptial flights, where the queen acquires the sperm used to fertilize every egg throughout her life. Predatory behavior Acrobat ant ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Chrysoritis
''Chrysoritis'', commonly called opals or coppers, is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae found mainly in southern Africa and particularly South Africa. Species Species of the genus include: at Markku Savela's ''Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms'' The ''chrysaor'' species group: * '''' (Trimen, 1887) – Lydenburg opal * '' Chrysoritis aureus'' (van Son, 1966) – Heidelberg copper or golden opal * '' [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Endemic Butterflies Of South Africa
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsewhere. For example, the Cape sugarbird is found exclusively in southwestern South Africa and is therefore said to be ''endemic'' to that particular part of the world. An endemic species can be also be referred to as an ''endemism'' or in scientific literature as an ''endemite''. For example '' Cytisus aeolicus'' is an endemite of the Italian flora. '' Adzharia renschi'' was once believed to be an endemite of the Caucasus, but it was later discovered to be a non-indigenous species from South America belonging to a different genus. The extreme opposite of an endemic species is one with a cosmopolitan distribution, having a global or widespread range. A rare alternative term for a species that is endemic is "precinctive", which applies to s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
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