About Spindasis natalensis (Westwood)
Cigaritis natalensis, commonly known as the Natal bar or Natal barred blue, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Lycaenidae. This species is distributed in South Africa, where it occurs from the Eastern Cape along the coast to KwaZulu-Natal, as well as in Eswatini, the Free State, Mpumalanga, Gauteng, Limpopo, North West province, and part of the Northern Cape province. It is also found in Botswana. Males have a wingspan ranging from 25 to 32.5 mm, while females have a wingspan of 26.5 to 34 mm. Adult Cigaritis natalensis can be seen flying year-round, with population peaks occurring in September to October and March to May. The larvae of this butterfly feed on Canthium inerme, Clerodendrum glabrum, and Ximenia afra.
