Dickson's copper

Dickson's copper or Dickson's strandveld copper (Chrysoritis dicksoni) is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is only known inland from Witsand in a single spot in fynbos. Previously, it was also found north of Cape Town. It is sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Oxychaeta.

For the other butterfly with this common name, see Aloeides dicksoni.

Dickson's copper
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Chrysoritis
Species:
C. dicksoni
Binomial name
Chrysoritis dicksoni
(Gabriel, 1947)
Synonyms
  • Phasis dicksoni Gabriel, 1947
  • Oxychaeta dicksoni(Gabriel, 1947)

The wingspan is 26–35 mm for males and 33–40 mm for females. Adults are on wing from late July to mid-September. There is one generation per year.[2]

The larvae feed through trophallaxis from Crematogaster peringueyi ants.

References
  1. Gimenez Dixon, M. (1996). "Oxychaeta dicksoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T15767A5121546. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T15767A5121546.en.
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.


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