Hong Kong Lepidopterists' Society

Lycaenidae (Blue and Hairstreak Butterflies Butterflies)
recorded from Hong Kong

Zizeeria karsandra (Moore, 1865) Dark Grass Blue ¦N ¦Ç ½º

Pseudozizeeria maha (Kollar, 1884)  Pale Grass Blue Ü` ¼ß ¦Ç ºÐ

Zizina otis (Fabricius, 1878) Lesser Grass Blue ¤ò ²´ ¦Ç ½º

GENERAL - There are many small and inconspicuous Lycaenids ( tiny blues) in Hong Kong.  However, these 3   Zizeeria karsandra ¦N¦Ç½º Dark Grass Blue, Pseudozizeeria maha Ü`¼ß¦ÇºÐ Pale Grass Blue and Zizina otis ¤ò²´¦Ç½º Lesser Grass Blue are most commonly found throughout the year. Other similar blues Celastrina lavendularis (Moore)  âÀ¦ç¯[¼þ¦Ç ½º, Udara albocaerulea (Moore) ¥Õ´³¼a¦Ç½º and Udara dilecta (Moore) ¬Ã¶Q¼a¦Ç½º, though a bit larger are rarely encountered. They are found in secluded areas and may only have one or two generations in a year.

They prefer open grassland and fly close to the ground. They tend to settle frequently on top of leaves with its wings folded upwards and will not fly far even if disturbed.  They like sunbathing in the cool morning. They feed readily on flowers.  They are mostly neglected. 

 Location sighted - throughout Hong Kong particularly rural villages in the New Territories.

	Zizeeria karsandra	Pseudozizeeria maha	Zizina otis
Status	Rare	Common	Uncommon
Wingspan*	2.0cm	3.0cm	2.0cm
Adult male butterfly ¡@
Female butterfly

* measures the distance between the 2 apexes (tips) of wings.

Superficial difference for adult butterfly

Zizeeria karsandra		A - inner row of black spots are more distinct than the outer row of spots B - black spot displaced outwards
Pseudozizeeria maha		A - black spot displaced outwards
Zizina otis ¡@		A - black spot displaced inwards

(Prepared by J. J. Young)

This page was created on 26th March 2001 and last updated on 26th March 2001

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© 2001 Hong Kong Lepidopterists' Society Limited