ROMSO Cyprus Knowledge Base

The Dark Grass Blue Butterfly: Zizeeria knysna

The Azuré de la surelle, commonly known as the dark grass blue or African grass blue, is a species of butterfly found in Africa, on Cyprus, and the Iberian Peninsula. This small, yet striking insect belongs to the family Lycaenidae and subfamily Polyommatinae.

Zizeeria knysna was first described by Roland Trimen in 1862 under the name Zizeeria knysna. However, due to a preoccupation of the same species name with Papilio lisimon Stoll in 1790, the current scientific classification uses Lycaena knysna (Trimén) as an alternative name.

The dark grass blue butterfly is characterized by its striking appearance, with males sporting dark blue wings almost purple in color and bordered by a large black margin. Females have brown wings more or less suffused with blue. The reverse side of the wing features pale ochre with lines of small black dots surrounded by white.

This species exhibits sexual dimorphism, making it easily distinguishable from other similar-looking butterflies. In terms of its life cycle, the eggs are parasitized by Catosia cupreus, while the caterpillar is treated by Tapinoma melanocephalum and Pheidole ants.

The dark grass blue butterfly can be found in various habitats throughout Africa, Madagascar, Mascareignes (including Reunion and Mauritius), North Africa, Sicily, Crete, Cyprus, and Spain on the Mediterranean border. Its host plants include Amaranthus, Oxalis, Medicago minima, and Medicago sativa, as well as Trifolium pratense and Trifolium repens.

The species is known to fly in several generations throughout its range, with a notable presence in the Canary Islands where it can be found all year round. In other regions, such as Spain and North Africa, it flies from February to October.

Cyprus plays an important role in the distribution of this butterfly, providing a habitat for the species to thrive. The island's unique geography and climate support a wide range of flora and fauna, making it an attractive location for various insect species like the dark grass blue.

In terms of conservation status, Zizeeria knysna is not currently listed as being under special protection. However, its habitats are often threatened by human activities such as deforestation and urbanization, which can impact local ecosystems