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Riley's opal
Conservation status
Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Genus:	Chrysoritis
Species:	C. rileyi
Binomial name
Chrysoritis rileyi (Dickson, 1966)
Synonyms
Poecilmitis rileyi Dickson, 1966

Chrysoritis rileyi, the Riley's opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is known only from hill slopes and river flats at the east end of the Brandvlei Dam in the Western Cape.

The wingspan is 30–35 mm (1.2–1.4 in) for males and 32–38 mm (1.3–1.5 in) for females. Adults are on wing from September to April, with peaks from October to November and in March.

The larvae feed on Thesium and Zygophyllum species. They are attended to by Crematogaster peringueyi ants.

References

1. Selb, H.E.T. (2020). "Chrysoritis rileyi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T17844A168302306. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T17844A168302306.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
2. 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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• IUCN Red List endangered species
• Butterflies described in 1966
• Chrysoritis
• Endemic butterflies of South Africa
• Aphnaeinae stubs