<> Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus, 1767) <>

the Pea Blue ผีเสื้อหนอนถั่ว

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Photo taken at Doi Suthep-Pui National Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand. 460m a.s.l.

Lampides boeticus is widespread and found in many regions of the world. In South-East Asia it is found in all countries and is quite common everywhere. The sexes are similar in appearance and can only usually be separated by the colour on the dorsal side of the wings, the male being predominately blue and the female being brown with blue tinges. It is not usually possible to determine sex from a lateral view alone. Both sexes visit a wide range of flowers for nectar and the males are frequently seen mud puddling. They are strong and fast fliers, usually around a metre above the ground.

The species is multivoltine and, due to a relatively short lifecyle, can produce many generations each year. The adult female lays her eggs singly on the buds of the host plant and the resulting larvae feed on the flowers, pods, and seeds. There are many different Fabaceae species used as hosts but there have been reports of a few plants from other families also being used. The larvae can also be considered a pest when they feed on cultivated legumes such as peas and beans

Synonyms and previously used names: Papilio boeticus, Papilio damoetes, Papilio coluteae, Papilio archias, Papilio pisorum, Papilio boetica, Lampides anamariae, Lampides armeniensis, Lampides grisescens, Lampides caerulea, Lampides caeruleafasciata, Lampides clara, Lampides clarafasciata, Lampides coerulea, Lampides fusca, Lampides infuscata, Lampides obsoleta, Lampides typicamarginata, Lampides minor, Lampides typicafasciata, Polyommatus bagus, Polyommatus yanagawensis

Taxonomy: Animalia - Arthropoda - Insecta - Lepidoptera - Lycaenidae - Polyommatinae - Lampides - boeticus

Regional subspecies: There are no subspecies.

Regional Distribution: Nepal, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines

Mountain area near Kalaw, Myanmar ♂ c.1400m a.s.l.

Habitat: Lampides boeticus is found in a wide range of habitats including deciduous and evergreen forest, grassland, scrubland, hill slopes, agricultural lands, and urban areas. It has been recorded at elevations up to around 3000m a.s.l. in the Himalayas.

Flight time: all year depending on location Wingspan: 23-30mm

Life History: egg 2-4 days instar 1 2-4 days instar 2 2-4 days instar 3 2-4 days instar 4 3-4 days instar 5 n/a pupa 5-7 days Total egg to adult 18-27 days
All times are approximate and can vary depending on the season and on the host used. There may also be additional instars in cooler climates.

Regional Larval Hosts: Abrus precatorius, Alysicarpus vaginalis, Butea buteiformis, Butea monosperma, Cajanus cajan, Callerya nitida, Canavalia ensiformis, Crotalaria alata, Crotalaria albida, Crotalaria cleomifolia, Crotalaria incana, Crotalaria juncea, Crotalaria laburnifolia, Crotalaria leioloba, Crotalaria micans, Crotalaria pallida, Crotalaria retusa, Crotalaria saltiana, Crotalaria sessiliflora, Crotalaria trichotoma, Crotalaria verrucosa, Dunbaria punctata, Erythrina spp., Gliricidia sepium, Glycine max, Lablab purpureus, Lathyrus odoratus, Lathyrus oleraceus, Lespedeza thunbergii, Medicago sativa, Melilotus indicus, Millettia pinnata, Mundulea sericea, Neustanthus phaseoloides, Phaseolus lunatus, Pongamia pinnata, Pueraria montana, Robinia pseudoacacia, Sesbania cannabina, Spartium junceum, Ulex europaeus, Vicia faba, Vicia sativa, Vigna angularis, Vigna marina, Vigna radiata, Vigna unguiculata, Xylia xylocarpa (Fabaceae), Lilium callosum (Liliaceae), Macaranga tanarius (Euphorbiaceae)
Actual host plant used depends upon location and availabilty of plant species.

Regional Adult Food Sources: Nectar - Ageratum conyzoides, Cyanthillium cinereum, Sphagneticola trilobata, Tagetes erecta, Tridax procumbens (Asteraceae), Celosia argentea (Amaranthaceae), Crotalaria pallida (Fabaceae), Muntingia calabura (Muntingiaceae), Sida cordata, Sida cordifolia (Malvaceae), Antigonon leptopus (Polygonaceae), Oldenlandia corymbosa, Spermacoce hispida (Rubiaceae), Mimosa diplotricha, Mimosa pudica (Mimosaceae), Stachytarpheta jamaicensis (Verbenaceae), Jatropha integerrima (Euphorbiaceae), Catharanthus roseus (Apocynaceae), Leucas aspera (Lamiaceae), Cyananthus incanus (Campanulaceae), Gentiana capitata (Gentianaceae), Magnolia campbellii (Magnoliaceae), Dendrobium devonianun, Dendrobium moniliforme (Orchidaceae), Berberis asiatica (Berberidaceae), Colubrina asiatica (Rhamnaceae). Other - mud puddling.