Iolaus poecilaon

Iolaus poecilaon, the intense sapphire, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Republic of the Congo, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.[2] The habitat consists of forests.

Iolaus poecilaon
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Lycaenidae
Genus:
Iolaus
Species:
I. poecilaon
Binomial name
Iolaus poecilaon
(Riley, 1928)[1]
Synonyms
  • Argiolaus poecilaon Riley, 1928
  • Iolaus (Philiolaus) poecilaon
  • Iolaus (Argiolaus) poecilaon fisheri Heath, 1983

The larvae feed on Phragmanthera rufescens, Phragmanthera usuiensis usuiensis, Phragmanthera polycrypta and Phragmanthera brieyi. The head of the larvae closely resemble new buds of their host plant. They feed on these buds and position themselves so that their heads takes their place as a form of camouflage.

Subspecies
  • Iolaus poecilaon poecilaon (Nigeria: the Cross River loop, Cameroon, Congo, Uganda, north-western Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo: Uele, Kinshasa and Lualaba)
  • Iolaus poecilaon fisheri Heath, 1983 (north-western Zambia)

References
  1. Iolaus at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Subtribe Iolaina


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