Thestor rileyi, the Riley's skolly, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, where it is known from the Western Cape, from the Helderberg and Paarl mountains to the Kouebokkeveldberg, Piketberg and Paardeberg mountain ranges.
| Thestor rileyi | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Thestor |
| Species: | T. rileyi
|
| Binomial name | |
| Thestor rileyi Pennington, 1956[2]
| |
The wingspan is 24–36 mm for males and 32.5–41 mm for females. Adults are on wing from late November to early January with a peak in December. There is one generation per year.[3]
Larvae have been found in the nests of the pugnacious ant (Anoplolepis custodiens), but the larval food is unknown.
References edit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thestor rileyi.
Wikispecies has information related to Thestor rileyi.
- ^ Coetzer, B.H. (2020) [amended version of 2020 assessment]. "Thestor rileyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T161321969A175065758. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T161321969A175065758.en. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ Thestor 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.