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Lampides boeticus, the pea blue, or long-tailed blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or gossamer-winged family.
The Latin species name boeticus refers to Baetica, a province of the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula . Its common name refers to the long streamers on its hind wings, the male's bright iridescent blue colour, and peas, which is the typical host plant of the butterfly.
This species was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1767 and was initially named Papilio boeticus.
This species can be found in Europe, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, and Australia. It is also found in the Hawaiian islands. In New Zealand this species is regarded as being self introduced as was first observed in November 1965.
