Hypolycaena philippus

Hypolycaena philippus, the purple-brown hairstreak or common hairstreak, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is native to sub-Saharan Africa where it is commonly found in wooded locations.

Purple-brown hairstreak
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Riodinidae
Genus: Hypolycaena
Species:
H. philippus
Binomial name
Hypolycaena philippus
(Fabricius, 1793)[1]
Synonyms
  • Hesperia philippus Fabricius, 1793
  • Cupido ramonza Saalmüller, 1878
  • Jolaus orejus Hopffer, 1855
  • Amblypodia erylus Trimen, 1866
  • Hypolycaena vittigera Mabille, 1879

The wingspan is 22–28 mm for males and 23.5–31 mm for females. Females lack the purple sheen which is present on the upper wings of males, and instead have submarginal white markings on their hind wings.[2] Adults are on wing year round in warmer areas with peaks in November and March or April.[2]

The larvae feed on Clerodendrum glabrum, Ximenia species (including X. caffra and X. americana), Deinbollia species (including D. oblongifolia), Vangueria species (including the inside of fruits of V. randii), Maytenus senegalensis, Allophylus, Loranthus, Punica granatum, other Clerodendrum, Coccinia grandis and Ixora.

Subspecies
  • Hypolycaena philippus philippus – mainland sub-Saharan Africa
  • Hypolycaena philippus ramonza (Saalmüller, 1878) – Madagascar, Aldabra, Cosmoledo, Comoro Islands

References
  1. Hypolycaena at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  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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