20-6-2022 MONTE CORONA,VALENCIA - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/209691-Leptotes-pirithous

14-2-2022 CALPE, ALICANTE - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/209691-Leptotes-pirithous

31-12-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/209691-Leptotes-pirithous

4-11-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/209691-Leptotes-pirithous

20-10-2021 RHODES, GREECE - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

 

3-9-2021 TANCAT DE MILIA, VALENCIA - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/209691-Leptotes-pirithous

28-12-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

23-6-2019 VILLALONGA RESERVOIR, VALENCIA - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

Leptotes pirithous, commonly known as Lang's short-tailed blue or common zebra blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.

Leptotes pirithous is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 21–29 mm (0.83–1.14 in) in males and 24–30 mm (0.94–1.18 in) 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 alexandrinum, 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.

This species can be found in southern Europe (Spain, France and Italy), along the Mediterranean coast, in Asia Minor up to the Himalayas, and in most of Africa and Madagascar.

29-5-2018 ALDEAROQUETA, CASTELLON - LANG'S SHORT TAILED BLUE BUTTERFLY (Leptotes pirithous)

Leptotes pirithous is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 21–29 mm (0.83–1.14 in) in males and 24–30 mm (0.94–1.18 in) 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.

This species can be found in southern Europe (Spain, France and Italy), along the Mediterranean coast, in Asia Minor up to the Himalayas, and in most of Africa and Madagascar.

This species prefers varied natural habitats, cultivated areas and gardens.