Anthene kikuyu, the Kikuyu ciliate blue, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Mauritania, Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, central and western Kenya and north-western Tanzania.[2] The habitat consists of dry savanna.

Kikuyu ciliate blue
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Anthene
Species:
A. kikuyu
Binomial name
Anthene kikuyu
Synonyms
  • Lycaenesthes otacilia var. kikuyu Bethune-Baker, 1910
  • Anthene (Anthene) kikuyu

Adults of both sexes are often attracted to the flowers of Acacia species.

The larvae feed on the young terminal shoots of Acacia lahai, Acacia stenocarpa and Dichrostachys species. They are associated with ants of the genus Crematogaster.

References

edit
  1. ^ Anthene at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera
  2. ^ "Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Lycaenesthini". Archived from the original on 2015-02-19. Retrieved 2012-09-06.