Cape Black-Eye

Cape Black-Eye

Leptomyrina lara

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at Table Mountain National Park

In 3 days ~20% in a week ~30%

56 Verified sightings at Table Mountain National Park From 2019 to 2026
83 In all 3 parks
February Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Cape Black-Eye

Leptomyrina lara, the Cape black-eye, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in South Africa, in fynbos, Nama Karoo and Succulent Karoo throughout the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape, the eastern parts of Free State, the mountains of Lesotho and Northern Cape.

The wingspan is 20–29 mm for males and 23–31 mm for females. Adults are on wing from August to April. There are several generations per year in summer and spring. The larvae feed on Kalanchoe lugardii, Crassula and Cotyledon plant species (including C. orbiculata). Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 West Coast National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
3 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Cape Town 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Cape Black-Eye in Table Mountain National Park?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Black-Eye sighting in Table Mountain National Park on a given day, based on 56 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 89th most-seen of the 344 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Cape Black-Eye in Table Mountain National Park?

April–June, September and December–February

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Cape Black-Eye in Table Mountain National Park on a given day, against under 5% in March, July–August and October–November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Cape Black-Eye?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Cape Black-Eye sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Table Mountain National Park the best place to see a Cape Black-Eye?

Among the best

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Cape Black-Eye sightings, Table Mountain National Park ranks 3rd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in West Coast National Park (South Africa, about 10%) and Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Cape Black-Eye live in Table Mountain National Park?

Same family: Lycaenidae

The closest relatives of the Cape Black-Eye that you can see in Table Mountain National Park (family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-winged Butterflies) are African Grass Blue (about 10%), Water Geranium Bronze (about 10%) and Geranium Bronze (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Cape Black-Eye sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Cape Black-Eye is recorded against all the insects logged in Table Mountain National Park (56 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.

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