Euchrysops malathana

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.

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

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).

  • female being courted, Ghana
    female being courted, Ghana

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Euchrysops malathana.
Wikispecies has information related to Euchrysops malathana.
  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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