Zintha
| Blue-eyed Pierrot | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Polyommatinae |
| Tribe: | Polyommatini |
| Genus: | Zintha Eliot, 1973 |
| Species: | Z. hintza
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| Binomial name | |
| Zintha hintza (Trimen, 1864)
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| Synonyms | |
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Zintha is a butterfly genus in the family Lycaenidae. It is monotypic, with the only species being Zintha hintza, the blue-eyed Pierrot, blue pied Pierrot or Hintza blue. The pied Pierrots proper are the closely related genus Tuxentius, however, and like Zintha they were formerly included in Castalius.[1]
Description[edit]
The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 24–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April.[2]
Food plants[edit]
The larvae feed on Ziziphus species, including Z. zeyheriana and Z. mucronata.
Distribution and subspecies[edit]
This butterfly occurs in tropical eastern and southern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized:[3]
- Zintha hintza hintza (Trimen, 1864) – South Africa to Kenya, possibly Zaire
- Zintha hintza krooni (Dickson, 1973) – Namibia and adjacent regions
- Zintha hintza resplendens (Butler, 1876) – Ethiopia and adjacent regions
Gallery[edit]
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Female imago -
Wing undersides -
A group mud-puddling
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Footnotes[edit]
- ^ Brower (2008), and see references in Savela (2007)
- ^ Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.
- ^ See references in Savela (2007)
References[edit]
- Brower, Andrew V.Z. (2008): Tree of Life Web Project – Zintha hintza (Trimen 1864). The Blue-eyed Pierrot. Version of 2008-MAY-19. Retrieved 2009-NOV-29.
- Savela, Markku (2009): Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms – Zintha. Version of 2007-MAY-20. Retrieved 2009-NOV-29.
- Seitz, A. Die Gross-Schmetterlinge der Erde 13: Die Afrikanischen Tagfalter. Plate XIII 73 b
External links[edit]
Data related to Zintha at Wikispecies
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zintha hintza.