Alenia sandaster, the Karoo dancer or Karoo sandman, is a species of butterfly in the family Hesperiidae. It is only known from the arid Nama Karoo of the eastern part of the West Cape, the central North Cape and the western East Cape in South Africa.
| Alenia sandaster | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Hesperiidae |
| Genus: | Alenia |
| Species: | A. sandaster
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| Binomial name | |
| Alenia sandaster | |
| Synonyms | |
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The wingspan is 22–27 mm for males and 26–28 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to January (with a peak from September to November). There is one extended generation per year.[2]
The larvae feed on Blepharis capensis and Barleria species.
References
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Wikispecies has information related to Alenia sandaster.
- ^ Alenia at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
- ^ 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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