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Euchrysops malathana

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Common smoky blue
male, Senegal
Benin
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
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 family Lycaenidae. 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

[edit]
  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.