''Erikssonia acraeina'', the Eriksson's copper, is a species of
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 ...
in the family
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 butterfl ...
. It was long thought to be
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
within the genus ''Erikssonia''. It is found in the southern parts of the
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (french: République démocratique du Congo (RDC), colloquially "La RDC" ), informally Congo-Kinshasa, DR Congo, the DRC, the DROC, or the Congo, and formerly and also colloquially Zaire, is a country in ...
, southern and south-eastern
Angola
, national_anthem = " Angola Avante"()
, image_map =
, map_caption =
, capital = Luanda
, religion =
, religion_year = 2020
, religion_ref =
, coordina ...
, and western and north-western
Zambia
Zambia (), officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country at the crossroads of Central Africa, Central, Southern Africa, Southern and East Africa, although it is typically referred to as being in Southern Africa at its most cent ...
(
Mongu
Mongu is the capital of Western Province in Zambia and was the capital of the formerly-named province and historic state of Barotseland. Its population is 179,585 (2010 census), and it is also the headquarters of Mongu District.
History
Mongu ...
,
Kataba, Mundwiji Plain).
The South African population on the
Waterberg is now treated as ''
Erikssonia edgei''.
Adults are on wing through most of the summer months, having been recorded from October to April, with a peak in activity from January to March.
References
External links
Taxonomy, Biology, Biogeography, Evolution and Conservation of the Genus ''Erikssonia'' Trimen (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae)
Butterflies described in 1891
Erikssonia (butterfly)
Butterflies of Africa
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot
{{lycaenidae-stub