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Dark Grass Blue / African Grass Blue. Zizeeria knysna (Trimen, 1862)

Diputación de Málaga
051 Violetilla

Dark Grass Blue / African Grass Blue. Zizeeria knysna (Trimen, 1862)

Present
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Safe appearance Probable appearance
MediosLand
Animal Life > Butterflies

Wingspan: From 1.8 to 2.4 cm.

Routes where it can be observed

Code

Closed wings: Their background is grey or brownish, and there are series of dots in the shape of an arch on all wings. The dots shape is more angled in the case of hindwings, while there is a dot in the discal area and another one under it on the forewings. There is a stretch between the dots and the margin with vague spots which are a bit darker than the background on both, forewings and hindwings.

Open wings: This species hardly ever stretches the wings. Male butterflies are blue or bright violet, and the margins are broad and brown. Female butterflies have less blue parts. In some cases, there are only the blue colour vaguely remains on the forewings.

Similar species

Panoptes Blue and False Baton Blue: They have a series of dots on the hindwings. The last dot is placed on the outer part and it forms a question mark. There are clearly marked black spots between the dots and the margin. They have checked fimbriae.

Biology and Habitat

This species flies throughout the year in lower areas and close to the sea. There are several of its generations, which become more plentiful at the end of summer.

These butterflies live in the grass which is humid almost all year, around rivers and streams, dams, ponds, reservoirs or other humid places, above all river terraces, banks and dry river beds. The species has adapted to urban zones, above all parks, gardens and the golf courses grass, where it lives whenever there is a small amount of biocide. This is thanks to their caterpillars foodplants, which are creeping plants that often live on the grass, such as leguminous alfalfas (Medicago spp.) and clovers (Trifolium spp.), or some other families plants like caltrops (Tribulus terrestris) and Glinus lotoides. They always live at altitudes which are lower than 600 m.

Distribution in the Great Path

This species is very common along the GMP: It is rare and limited to specific places in the case of mountainous areas and the north of the province, while there are lot of these butterflies in urban zones with broad lawns and little amount of biocide.