A foreign butterfly

[JohnR]

Can anyone name this very poor snap that I took in the Garden of Gethsemane a couple of weeks ago?

[MikeOxon]

I'd suggest the Common Zephyr Blue (Leptotes pirithous), which occurs all around the Med and Eastwards to the Himalaya. Have a look at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptotes_pirithous for more info and photos.

Mike

[JohnR]

Thanks. I had got as far as a blue but since my 1970 edition of Higgin's and Riley's Field Guide appears not to list that species I came to a grinding halt.

[CFB]

Hello John,

In my Higgins and Riley Field Guide (1977) it is listed as Syntarucus pirithous or Lang's Short-tailed Blue. Currently near to me in the Alpes-Maritimes there are dozens of them wherever there are Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) plants. Well probably not today as it is cloudy, and much, much colder than previous days
--
Colin

[David M]

In my Higgins and Riley Field Guide (1977) it is listed as Syntarucus pirithous or Lang's Short-tailed Blue.

Must admit, I thought it was LSTB when I first saw it.

[Padfield]

All spot on! I think Mike meant 'zebra' rather than 'Zephyr'. Certainly, the closely related Leptotes plinius, which I have been seeing in India over the last few days, is commonly called a zebra blue, and it's not difficult to see why:



This genus of migratory butterflies flies from the Mediterranean to the Antipodes.

Guy

[MikeOxon]

I think Mike meant 'zebra' rather than 'Zephyr'.

Yes - a slip of the tongue - or typing finger.

Mike