About Leptomyrina lara (Linnaeus, 1764)
Leptomyrina lara, commonly known as the Cape black-eye, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae. It is distributed in southern Africa, where it occurs in fynbos, Nama Karoo, and Succulent Karoo habitats. Its range extends across the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape, the eastern regions of Free State, the mountains of Lesotho, and the Northern Cape of South Africa. Males of this species have a wingspan measuring 20–29 mm, while females have a wingspan of 23–31 mm. Adult Leptomyrina lara are active between August and April. This species produces multiple generations per year during the spring and summer seasons. Its larvae feed on plant species from the genera Kalanchoe, Crassula, and Cotyledon, including the species Cotyledon orbiculata, specifically Kalanchoe lugardii.
