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Long-tailed Pea Blue (Lampides boeticus)

Long-tailed Pea Blue
Male upperside. (Perth, WA, 22 / 05 / 2011)

Appearance: Upperside mainly blue; underside light brown with white lines and broad, white subterminal band. Hind wing with two black subtornal eyespots and fine, long tail.
Wingspan: 2.5–3.0 cm
Season: Several generations all around the year.
Range: Widespread throughout QLD, NSW, ACT, VIC, and SA; less widespread in NT, WA, and TAS.
Habitat: Different habitats, including suburban gardens.

Notes

The Long-tailed Pea Blue is one of the most widespread butterflies of Australia (and in fact the entire world) and can be easily identified by the broad, white subterminal band on the underside of the hind wing. The species is known to be migratory and can appear in areas where it does not normally breed. Apart from Australia, the Long-tailed Pea Blue also occurs in southern Europe, northern and central Africa, southern Asia and across the Pacific (including New Zealand and Hawaiʻi).

Additional Photos

Long-tailed Pea Blue
The upperside of the male is uniformly blue. (Perth, WA, 22 / 05 / 2011)
Long-tailed Pea Blue
The blue colour on the upperside of the female is less extended. (Albany, WA, 29 / 12 / 2012)
Long-tailed Pea Blue
The underside shows a broad white subterminal band. (Perth, WA, 20 / 04 / 2009)
Long-tailed Pea Blue
Mating pair with the larger female on the right-hand side. (Perth, WA, 20 / 04 / 2009)
Long-tailed Pea Blue
The tiny, white eggs are attached to leaves and flower buds of the food plant. (Perth, WA, 22 / 05 / 2011)