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Cassius Blue / Borboleta-Emília

Leptotes cassius cassius

Description:

(Cramer, 1775)

Lepidoptera: Bombycina: Papilionoidea: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae: Polyommatini

Other names: Tropical Striped Blue.

Wingspan ranges from 20 to 35mm.

Sex: ♂

Habitat:

They prefer weedy areas due to their host plants being mostly composed of the species described in the notes. This one was found in a weedy backyard with no signs of human intervention; that said, this backyard was still in an anthropic region. The butterfly is naturally found in woods and fields.

Elas preferem áreas de matagal pois suas plantas hospedeiras são em grande parte compostas das espécies que citei nas notas. Essa foi encontrada em um jardim dos fundos com bastante matagal sem sinais de intervenção humana; tendo dito isto, ainda sim o local de encontro foi no meio antrópico. A borboleta é naturalmente encontrada em bosques e campos.

Notes:

Essa subespécie, Leptotes cassius cassius, foi fotografada em Santa Catarina. O comprimento das asas vão de 20mm até 35mm. Suas larvas se alimentam de Fabaceae. Foram documentadas se alimentando de Amorpha crenulata, Plumbago scandens, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus limensis, Plumbago auriculata, Galactia regularis, Galactia volubilis e Crotalaria incana. O lado superior dos machos é azul-pálido e o das fêmeas possui manchas brancas. Depositam seus ovos sobre as flores das plantas hospedeiras, onde posteriormente as larvas irão se alimentar. As formigas protegem as larvas e em troca se alimentam de suas secreções. A borboleta se alimenta do néctar de flores de Scandix pecten-veneris, Libbia sp., e muitas outras. São mais comumente avistadas em lugares inalterados onde há bastante vegetação daninha. Essa borboleta pertence à família Lycaenidae, subfamília Polyommatinae e tribo Polyommatini. O sujeito retratado é um macho.

ENGLISH VERSION:

This subspecies, Leptotes cassius cassius, was photographed in the Santa Catarina state of Brazil. The wingspan of adults range from 20mm to 35mm. Their larvae feed on Fabaceae. They were recorded feeding on Amorpha crenulata, Plumbago scandens, Phaseolus lunatus, Phaseolus limensis, Plumbago auriculata, Galactia regularis, Galactia volubilis and Crotalaria incana. The upperside of males is a pale blue while female's possess white patches. They lay their eggs on the flower buds of the host plants, which the caterpillars will feed later on. Ants care for these caterpillars and in exchange feed on their secretions. The butterfly feeds on nectar from flowers of Scandix pecten-veneris, Lippia sp. and many others. They are most often seen in weedy places. This butterfly belongs in the family Lycaenidae, subfamily Polyommatinae and tribe Polyommatini. The subject portrayed is a male.

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Oscar Neto
Spotted by
Oscar Neto

SC, Brazil

Spotted on Nov 22, 2017
Submitted on Feb 11, 2018

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