About Lepidochrysops patricia (Trimen, 1887)
Lepidochrysops patricia, commonly called the patrician blue, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae. This butterfly is distributed across South Africa, ranging from the Western Cape through the Eastern Cape, and also occurs in KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, North West, and the Northern Cape. Male individuals have a wingspan between 35 and 44 mm, while female individuals have a wingspan between 36 and 46 mm. Adult Lepidochrysops patricia are active from September to December, and again from January to April. This species has two generations per year. The larvae of Lepidochrysops patricia feed on Salvia species, Lantana rugosa, and Lantana camara. Larvae in the third instar and later instars feed on the brood of the ant species Camponotus maculatus.
