Cacyreus virilis, the eastern bush blue, mocker bronze or mocker blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from South Africa to Zimbabwe, through central and eastern Africa to south-western Arabia.

Cacyreus virilis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Cacyreus
Species:
C. virilis
Binomial name
Cacyreus virilis
Synonyms
  • Cupido lingeus ab. virilis Aurivillius, 1925

The wingspan is 24–26 mm for males and 24–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round, with a peak from November to February.[2]

The larvae feed on the flowers of various Lamiaceae species, including Coleus, Salvia, Calamintha and Lavandula species.

References

edit
  1. Cacyreus 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.