Insects Photo Click 14: Long- tailed Blue.

Lampides boeticus

Male, photographed in Malta.

The Long- tailed Blue is also known as the Pea Blue. Peas are one of the host plants on which the caterpillars feed. They feed on the leaves of various legumes including peas and beans.

This species can be found in Europe, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Australia and the Hawaiian islands.

Photographed in Malta.

In the Maltese Islands, the adult butterflies seems to have a preference for the flowers of the Mediterranean Thyme (Thymbra capitata), on which it is often observed feeding.