Chrysoritis aureus

{{Short description|Species of butterfly}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Heidelberg copper

| image = Chrysoritis aureus, J Dobson, a.jpg

| status = EN| status_system = IUCN3.1

| genus = Chrysoritis

| species = aureus

| authority = van Son, 1966

| synonyms =

• Poecilmitis aureus (van Son, 1966)
• Chrysoritis aureus

|status_ref={{cite iucn |author=Henning, G.A. |date=2020 |title=Chrysoritis aureus |volume=2020 |page=e.T17840A168307918 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T17840A168307918.en |access-date=16 November 2021}}

}}

Chrysoritis aureus, the Heidelberg copper or golden opal, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is endemic to South Africa, where it is found in montane grassland in Gauteng and Mpumalanga provinces.

The wingspan is 24–28 mm for males and 28–32 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round with peaks in December and March.{{cite book|last=Woodhall |first=Steve |title=Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa |year=2005 |location=Cape Town, South Africa |publisher=Struik |isbn=978-1-86872-724-7 }}

The larvae feed on Clutia pulchella varieties. They are attended to by Crematogaster liengmei ants.