Pale grass blue

A butterfly that can be seen even in urban areas

Scientific name	Zizeeria maha
English name	Pale grass blue
Japanese name	大和小灰蝶
Class	Insecta
Order	Lepidoptera
Family	Lycaenidae
Genus	Zizeeria
Species	maha
Full length	9-16mm
Distribution	Honshu and southward

Pale grass blue Characteristics and Morphology

The wingspan is less than 2cm. The color of the wing surface differs between males and females. The color changes with the seasons, and the ground color of gray approaches black when the temperature drops.
The head is gray. The tips of the antennae are slightly swollen. The underside of the wings is light gray with brown spots. There are two rows of markings along the edge of the wings. Both the forewings and hindwings have a small "く"-shaped pattern in the center. The surface differs between males and females.

Male

The upperside of the wings is bluish on a grayish ground close to black. It has a glossy color.

Female

Compared to males, the overall color is darker.
The upperside of the wings is brownish.

Pale grass blue Ecology

Habitat

It inhabits roadsides and cultivated land in flatlands. It can occur even in urban areas as long as the host plant, Oxalis corniculata, is present.

Food

The larvae feed on the leaves of Oxalis corniculata. Adults suck the nectar of low-growing flowers.

Life Cycle

The larvae hatch in 5-6 days and become adults after a larval period of about 2 weeks and a pupal period of about 6 days. Enemies include clouds and mantises.

Pale grass blue Photos

Pale grass blue Photos are introduced.
Tap the photo to open the detail page.

There is a "く"-shaped pattern in the center of the wing.

The upperside of the male's wings is deep blue.

Pale grass blue Information

Naming

The specific name "maha" comes from a Sanskrit word meaning "large." This is related to the fact that Kollar, who described this species, judged the individuals collected in India to be larger compared to other species.

A common lycaenid butterfly.

Pale grass blue Found Locations

Katakurajō跡 Park, Hachiōji

I photographed it flying around in Katakurajō跡 Park in Hachiōji. The wind was blowing, and it often closed its wings, so I had to wait for a while to observe the upperside of the wings. When the wind calmed down a little, it gently opened its wings, so I was able to photograph the deep blue color of the upperside.
It is a common sight to see Zizeeria maha along the roadside, but if you observe it carefully, the rows of patterns lining the edges of the wings look quite stylish.