Appearance
"Leptotes pirithous" is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 21–29 mm in males and 24–30 mm in females. The uppersides of the wings are purple bluish in males, bluish brown in female. The undersides are dark beige striped with white lines. The hindwings show marginal orange and black spots and two small tails. For the design of the undersides of the wings they can be confused with "Lampides boeticus" and "Cacyreus marshalli". These butterflies fly from February to November depending on the location. They are regular migrants.The larvae feed on the flowers and fruits of Fabaceae, Rosaceae and Plumbaginaceae species, including "Plumbago capensis", "Indigofera", "Rynchosia", "Vigna", "Burkea", "Mundulea", "Melilotus", "Crataegus", "Quercus suber", "Medicago sativa", "Trifolium alexandrium", "Arachis hypogaea", "Lythrum", "Calluna", "Genista", "Dorycnium", "Lythrum salicaria", "Calluna vulgaris", "Onobrychis viciifolia", "Ulex" and "Melilotus alba". A life cycle takes about four to eight weeks, depending on the temperature.
male on left
File:Common zebra blue butterflies 02.jpg|"L. p. pirithous", 2 of 3female covers male
File:Common zebra blue butterflies 03.jpg|"L. p. pirithous", 3 of 3female on male
Naming
The following subspecies have been identified:⤷ "Leptotes pirithous pirithous"
⤷ "Leptotes pirithous capverti" Libert, Baliteau & Baliteau, 2011
⤷ "Leptotes pirithous insulanus"
Distribution
This species can be found in southern Europe, along the Mediterranean coast, in Asia Minor up to the Himalayas, and in most of Africa and Madagascar.
Habitat
This species prefers varied wasteland, cultivated areas and gardens.References:
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