English: Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia Clade: Euarthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family Lycaenidae Genus: Tarucus Species: T. plinius Binomial name: Tarucus plinius (Fabricius, 1793) Scientific name: Leptotes Higher classification: Lycaenidae Phylum: Arthropoda Rank: Genus

DID YOU KNOW!!! Zebra Blue Butterfly – Leptotes plinius

Zebra Blue or Leptotes plinius is a small butterfly from the Lycaenidae family. It is easily identifiable by its unique markings on the underside

Leptotes plinius – Details and Identification

The shape is comparable to other Pierrot butterflies like Common Pierrot and Red Pierrot. Size may be slightly smaller with wingspan around 22 mm. It is a common butterfly species.

Markings: The under hind wing is primarily white and brown, and has some unique markings which make it easy to identify this butterfly. There are usually three markings or spots on the post-basal area, followed by some irregular shaped spots on the discal area. The post-discal area of the under hind wing has a 3 petal shaped spot, which is easily noticeable. The marginal area is separated from discal by a white part. The marginal area also has a set of brown spots followed by black spots near the tornus. Two of these black spots are big and bordered by blue and orange colors. Hind wings has tails.

Life History

Larval attendant ant: Larvae are sometimes attended by a few small ants.

Eggs: Laid singly on the flower buds of the hostplant.

Larvae: The final instar is onisciform (slater shaped), about 12 mm long, polymorphic coloured in some shade of green or pink, with a darker mid dorsal line and other darker markings. Larvae remain exposed on the host plant.

Pupae: Short cylindrical, rounded anteriorly and posteriorly, about 8 mm long, mostly smooth with a few short bristles. Usually brown coloured with darker markings. Weakly attached to the silked substrate by anal hooks and a central girdle, usually to the stems on the hostplant just below the flowering spike upon which the larva was last feeding.

Flight period: The flight of the butterfly coincides with the flowering of its Plumbago host plants, which is most of the year in hot, humid areas, but in summer and autumn in cooler areas.

Habitat: Its native Plumbago foodplants occur in higher rainfall woodland habitat with assured access to water. The butterfly is now generally considered to be an urban butterfly along the coastal and near coastal areas.