About Brephidium metophis (Wallengren, 1860)
Brephidium metophis, commonly known as the tinktinkie blue, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae. This species is found in southern Africa, with confirmed populations in South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe. Within South Africa, its range extends from the Western Cape northward into Namaqualand (a region that spans the northern portion of the Western Cape province and the Northern Cape province), and eastward into the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the western part of the Free State province. Males of this species have a wingspan ranging from 20 to 24 millimeters, while females have a larger wingspan between 21 and 28 millimeters. Adult Brephidium metophis are active year-round, with their flight period varying based on local rainfall. The larvae of this butterfly feed exclusively on Exomis axyrioides.
