Euchrysops malathana

Common smoky blue
male, Senegal
Benin
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Euchrysops
Species: E. malathana
Binomial name
Euchrysops malathana
(Boisduval, 1833)[1]
Synonyms
  • Lycaena malathana Boisduval, 1833
  • Lycaena asopus Hopffer, 1855
  • Lycaena asopus Hopffer, 1855
  • Lycaena kama Trimen, 1862

Euchrysops malathana, the common smoky blue or smoky bean Cupid, is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in south-western Arabia and Africa, south of the Sahara including Madagascar.

The wingspan is 22–30 mm for males and 23–31 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round, with a peak from December to May in South Africa.[2]

The larvae feed on Sphenostylis angustifolius, Medicago, Psidium, Canavalia and Vigna species (including V. triloba and V. unguiculata).

References

  1. Euchrysops at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
  2. Woodhall, Steve (2005). Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa. Cape Town, South Africa: Struik. ISBN 978-1-86872-724-7.


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