Euchrysops malathana (Boisduval 1833)

Euchrysops malathana Boisduval
Lycaena malathana Boisduval, 1833b: 25. Euchrysops malathana: Bethune-Baker. 1923: 358; pi. 25. fig. 60. pi. 31, fig. 59. Hawker-Smith, 1929: 232 (including variety nilotica Aurivillius). Stempffer, 1950: 404; 1954c: 352. Stempffer and Bennett, 1956: 513.
= Cupido asopus Hopffer: Karsch, 1893: 226.
This species occurs all over Africa (including Madagascar) from the Cape north to Senegal and Abyssinia and beyond into Arabia and is everywhere common. Dates on the records below suggest that the major flight period is from December to May.
Liberia: Pata; left bank of Cavalla River (Ivory Coast) (Stempffer, 1950); Kpain, I, II, IV, VII, XII; Bahn, VIII (Stempffer and Bennett, 1956); no further data, 1 6 (Good); 2 5,15 (Naysmith); Cape Palmas, 2 S , IX (Good); Fisherman's Lake, 1 6,1 2, V (Thomas) ; Robert's Field, 2 $, VI (Thomas) ; Harbel, 3 $ ,5 2.1, 9 $ , 9 2 , II, 4 S , III, 5 S,2 2 , IV (Fox).

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.

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.

The larvae feed on Sphenostylis angustifolius, Medicago, Psidium, Canavalia and Vigna species (including V. triloba and V. unguiculata).

female being courted, Ghana