Zebra Blues are small (wingspan 20-30 mm) low-flying butterflies in the Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged Butterflies), subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues, Bronzes, Hairstreaks etc.). Blues are tiny to small butterflies, many of which have brilliant blue uppersides (although some are dull grey or brown). 

The image with upper sides shows a pair in courtship mode prior to mating. Male Zebra Blues (left) are shiny blue above and differ from their females (right) which have a checkerboard pattern of grey on a white and blue ground. The undersides have irregular grey stripes on a white ground, resulting in their common name. Like many Lycaenidae they have short hindwing tails positioned next to prominent eyespots (particularly on the underside) that create a predator-confusing ‘false head’ effect.

There are four species of Leptotes Zebra Blue. Common Zebra Blue Leptotes pirithous, Short-toothed Zebra Blue L. brevidentatus, Jeannel’s Zebra Blue L. jeanneli, and Babault’s Zebra Blue L. babaulti, which have identical wing markings to one another. The only way to tell them apart is to dissect them and that means killing the butterfly. Who wants to do that? Most of the ones we see are the Common Zebra Blue; it really is just that; common!

Males choose a perch on top of a bush or on a prominent rock and fly off to chase other butterflies. They settle often and readily open their wings to reveal the upper side. They also like to sit on damp earth and mud, sucking up dissolved minerals. They may also suck nutrients from old bones or carnivore dung. Females are found close to the host plants or on flowers.

There are four species of Black-eyes in South Africa, all in the Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged Butterflies), subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues, Bronzes, Hairstreaks etc.). Three of these are very similar to one another, are found in differing parts of the country, and all occur in gardens. The fourth species, Tailed Black-eye Leptomyrina hirundo, is smaller, has a dark blue upper side, and has long hindwing tails. It is seldom seen in gardens.

These are small (wingspan 20-30mm) low-flying butterflies found across South Africa’s provinces. Cape Black-eye occurs in the Fynbos and Karoo biomes, Brown Black-eye in the central savanna and grasslands, and Lilac-based Black-eye on the mountains and on the seaward side of the Great Escarpment. 

They have in common warm brown upper sides and a prominent white-ringed black eyespot at the lower corners of the forewings. Cape Black-eye has a coppery shade similar to the Plain Black-eye, and the Lilac-based Black-eye, as its name suggests, has greyish-mauve bases to the upper sides of the wings. The undersides of all of them are whitish-grey with dark speckles.

Males choose a perch on the side of a bush or on a prominent rock and fly off to chase other butterflies. They fly fast but settle often and readily open their wings to reveal the upper side. The females exhibit similar coloration and patterning as the males; however, they possess broader wings, exhibit slower flight, and are frequently observed on flowers. 

The Pea Blue (which is also known as ‘Long-tailed Blue’) is one of the Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged Butterflies), subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues, Bronzes, Hairstreaks etc.). Blues are tiny to small butterflies, many of which have brilliant blue uppersides (although some are dull grey or brown). 

The male Pea Blue’s wingspan is 24-32 mm, the female’s, 24-34mm.

Males choose a perch on a tall herb or on a prominent rock and fly off to chase other butterflies. They fly extremely fast but settle often and readily open their wings to reveal the upper side. Males are bright blue above with patches of darker blue which are visible in flight, making them unmistakable to the trained eye. Females are a duller shade of blue with wide grey-brown borders and white marks around the edges of the hindwings. They are more often found on flowers and around their host plants.

The underside of both sexes’ wings is warm grey crossed by fine white bands and a thicker band along the outer edge of the hindwing. Each hindwing carries a short tail close to two black spots on both wing surfaces, that give the impression of a ‘false head’ as do many other ‘Blues’. 

The Common Geranium Bronze  is one of the Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged Butterflies), subfamily Polyommatinae (Blues, Bronzes etc.). Blues are tiny to small butterflies, many of which have brilliant blue uppersides (although some are dull grey or brown). Common Geranium Bronze is one of the brown ones.

The male Common Geranium Bronze’s wingspan is 15-23 mm, the female’s, 24-27mm. The sexes are alike. There are two less common similar species. One is the Water Geranium Bronze Cacyreus fracta which has some violet-blue on the upperside. It lives in wetlands in cooler areas like the Western Cape and the Drakensberg. The other is Dickson’s Geranium Bronze Cacyreus dicksoni whose upperside is more of a coppery hue – and is found in the Karoo.

They fly quite low, fluttering among the vegetation and are often seen along herbaceous borders. They keep close to the host plants.

Both sexes are fond of flower nectar. Males also like to sit on damp earth and mud, sucking up dissolved minerals.

The Garden Acraea is one of the Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies), subfamily Heliconiinae (Acraeas and Longwings).

The males are red with black spots and transparent forewing tips. Females are yellow-brown or red, and if red it’s a duller, brick-red shade than the males. The wingspan is 45-55 mm. 

They are slow flying, gregarious little butterflies that glide through the air with wings open, only occasionally flapping them. They seldom move far away from their host plant. 

The Dark Blue Pansy is one of the Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies), subfamily Nymphalinae (Admirals, Pansies etc.).

Pansies are small to medium-sized butterflies with a wingspan of between 40 and 60mm. They get their common name from the way some of them resemble pansy flowers. Dark Blue Pansy is one of these; its blue and white markings on a jet-black ground have a ‘face-like’ pattern if you use your imagination a bit! 

They are sun loving, prolific, confiding butterflies.  They fly low and often settle on flowers or the ground. The males are aggressively territorial and will choose a high point and chase away all other butterflies from it – even big ones like Charaxes. This is a female; males are similar but don’t have as many red eyespots. The underside is coloured in shades of brown and grey, camouflaging it when resting on the ground or amongst dead leaves.

The African Yellow Pansy is one of the Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies), subfamily Nymphalinae (Admirals, Pansies etc.).

Pansies are small to medium-sized butterflies with a wingspan of between 40 and 60mm. They get their common name from the way some of them resemble pansy flowers. African Yellow Pansy is one of these; its bright yellow markings have a ‘face-like’ pattern if you use your imagination a bit!

The combination of bright yellow, metallic blue, and jet black makes it one of our most attractive garden butterflies. This is a male; females are similar but have more extensive black markings. The underside is coloured in shades of brown and grey, camouflaging it when resting on the ground or amongst dead leaves.