Dwarf Blue

Description:

The Dwarf Blue (Oraidium barberae) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in South Africa and Zimbabwe. In South Africa it is found from the West Cape, north to Namaqualand, the North Cape and east to the East Cape and the Orange Free State as well as northern KwaZulu-Natal. The wingspan is 10-15 mm for males and 12-18 mm for females, one of the smallest of all butterflies. Adults are on wing continuously depending on the rainfall, with peaks usually occurring from September to November and from February to April. The larvae probably feed on Exomis axyrioides.