Zintha

Blue-eyed Pierrot
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Lycaenidae
Subfamily:	Polyommatinae
Tribe:	Polyommatini
Genus:	Zintha Eliot, 1973
Species:	Z. hintza
Binomial name
Zintha hintza (Trimen, 1864)
Synonyms
Castalius hintza (Trimen, 1864) Lycaena hintza Trimen, 1864 Castalius hintza krooni Dickson, 1973 Castalius resplendens Butler, 1876

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.

Description

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 24–27 mm for females. Adults are on wing from September to April.

Food plants

The larvae feed on Ziziphus species, including Z. zeyheriana and Z. mucronata.

Distribution and subspecies

This butterfly occurs in tropical eastern and southern Africa. Three subspecies are recognized:

• 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

• 
  Female imago
• 
  Wing undersides
• 
  A group mud-puddling

References

• 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

• Data related to Zintha at Wikispecies