Eicochrysops messapus
In 3 days ~30% in a week ~60%
Eicochrysops messapus, the cupreous blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Africa. In South Africa it is rare and only known from the northern part of the Limpopo province and northern KwaZulu-Natal.
The wingspan is 17–22 mm for males and 17–24 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round in warmer areas, with peaks in October and March. In cooler areas it is not found from April to September. The larvae probably feed on Thesium species. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilanesberg National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 4 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cupreous Blue sighting in Pilanesberg National Park on a given day, based on 14 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 21st most-seen of the 39 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 30%, and over a week to about 60%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February
In that month about 30% of wildlife watchers report a Cupreous Blue in Pilanesberg National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March to September, the lowest months. That is one of Pilanesberg National Park's wettest months, with about 90 mm of rain against almost none in August.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Cupreous Blue sightings with a recorded time, and nearly all of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 4 parks where we can rate Cupreous Blue sightings, Pilanesberg National Park has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come iSimangaliso Wetland Park (South Africa, about 10%) and Garden Route National Park (South Africa, under 5%).
Same family: Lycaenidae
The closest relatives of the Cupreous Blue that you can see in Pilanesberg National Park (family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-winged Butterflies) are Leaden Hairtail (about 10%), African Babul Blue (about 10%) and Castalius melaena (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Cupreous Blue is recorded against all the insects logged in Pilanesberg National Park (14 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
