Bug FAQBush Bronze
Cacyreus lingeus · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Lycaenidae
Also called: Common Bush Blue
Source: Wikipedia
It is common across sub-Saharan Africa at lower elevations and its larvae feed on the flowers, leaves or stems of many Lamiaceae herbs. Adults are on the wing all year, with a peak from October to February, and may even appear in winter in cooler areas.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The species is endemic to the Afrotropical region.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of 22 to 27 mm and females 22 to 28 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is a common butterfly in much of sub-Saharan Africa, mainly at lower altitudes.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The pale-green larvae feed on the flowers, leaves or stems of various Lamiaceae plants such as Plectranthus, Salvia, Calamintha, Lavandula, Mentha and Hemizygia.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on wing throughout the year, with numbers highest from October to February. In unusual cases they may also be seen in winter months in cooler areas.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are present year-round, peaking between October and February.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to the Afrotropics.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What plants do the larvae feed on?
The larvae eat flowers, leaves or stems of many mint-family plants, including lavender, mint, sage and related herbs.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult Bush Bronze butterflies most active?
Adults are active all year, but are most common from October through February.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Lycaenidae)
_female.jpg){kind=link}
_underside_Principe.jpg){kind=link}
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cacyreus_lingeus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.