Long-tailed Pea-blue Lampides boeticus
Wingspan: 25 mm - 27 mm
Seen flying: September - April
Larval Food Plants:
Flower buds and flowers of native and introduced legumes in the Fabaceae. On our property it lays on Bird's-foot Trefoil flower buds.
As you can see in our photographs the sun brings out a dusting of blue on the upperside of the butterfly's wings.
They are often missing a tail or two as birds probably aim for the eye spots on the end of the wings. A butterfly can survive without a bit of wing but not its body.
Occasionally larvae are attended by ants.
Wingspan: 25 mm - 27 mm
Seen flying: September - April
Larval Food Plants:
Flower buds and flowers of native and introduced legumes in the Fabaceae. On our property it lays on Bird's-foot Trefoil flower buds.
As you can see in our photographs the sun brings out a dusting of blue on the upperside of the butterfly's wings.
They are often missing a tail or two as birds probably aim for the eye spots on the end of the wings. A butterfly can survive without a bit of wing but not its body.
Occasionally larvae are attended by ants.
No. 1 seen on 24.04.13 at 1.52 pm Lampides boeticus
No. 2 seen on 24.04.13 at 1.54 pm Lampides boeticus (note tear in wing as above photo and purple & red flowers are side-by-side)
No. 3 seen on 21.01.09 at 2.20 pm Lampides boeticus laying eggs on Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)) flower buds
No. 4 seen on 21.01.09 at 2.19 pm Lampides boeticus (Same butterfly as above)
No. 5 seen on 21.01.09 at 2.21 pm Lampides boeticus - same butterfly as above two
A worn Long-tailed Pea-blue feeding on buttercup (12.03.16 at 12.15 hrs)