Long Tailed Blue

Abundant

Often found flying very rapidly around stands of pea plants. In these circumstances it can be quite numerous

Most of the small number of native butterflies in Egypt belong to the Lycaenidae family (the Blues).  The  Long-tailed Blue is the commonest, their larvae feed on many kinds of leguminous plants.

Size: 30-36 mm. Very variable in size. The hindwing has two black spots near tail. The underside of the wings are pale brown with pale transverse wavy lines including a broad white band. The upperside of the wing of the male is violet-blue; while in the female is brown with variable violet-blue.

Widespread. AOO = 232 km2. EOO = 740,000 km2. More than 10 locations.

Widespread (Africa, southern Asia, Australia, Hawaii, and southern Europe)

Cultivated areas everywhere.

 Least Concern

Several generations per year.

92 records. Latest in 2006 (several places)

Can be a pest of legume crops such as peas and beans since crop unmarketable

Resident and migrant

All the year

Host-plants: Leguminosae - including cultivated crops, Tephrosia, Astragalus, Crotalaria, Colutea, Medicago, etc.; in Sinai prefers Colutea istria.