Hypolycaena buxtoni, the Buxton's hairstreak, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa.

Hypolycaena buxtoni
Seitz Fauna Africana Taf 67 (line b)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Hypolycaena
Species:
H. buxtoni
Binomial name
Hypolycaena buxtoni
Synonyms
  • Hypolycaena seamani Trimen, 1874
  • Hypolycaena buxtoni f. rogersi Bethune-Baker, 1924
  • Hypolycaena buxtoni f. divisa Talbot, 1935

The wingspan is 25–30 mm for males and 28–33 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to May (with a peak in October and November) and from February to May (with a peak in March and April). There are two generations per year.[2]

The larvae feed on Tricalysia and Pavetta species and possibly Tarenna pavettoides.[3]

Subspecies edit

  • Hypolycaena buxtoni buxtoni (Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Zimbabwe, Malawi)
  • Hypolycaena buxtoni rogersi Bethune-Baker, 1924 (the coast of eastern Kenya and eastern Tanzania)
  • Hypolycaena buxtoni spurcus Talbot, 1929 (Zambia, southern Zaire (Shaba), south-western Tanzania)

References edit

  1. ^ Hypolycaena 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.
  3. ^ Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Subtribe Hypolycaenina

External links edit