Jewelled Grass-blue
Common NameJewelled Grass-blue
Scientific NameFreyeria trochylus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)18
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale brown, black, metallic blue-green, orange
HabitatOpen grassy areas, dry grasslands, scrubland, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeAfrica, Middle East, parts of Asia (from Turkey to India, Sri Lanka, and Southeast Asia)
Host PlantsHeliotropium, Indigofera, Tephrosia, Zornia
Flight PeriodYear-round in warmer regions, multiple broods
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are small, slug-like, and are often myrmecophilous (associated with ants). Pupation occurs near the ground.
Identification TipsKey identification features include its minute size, the pale brown/grey underside with black spots, and the characteristic row of metallic blue-green 'jewels' on the hindwing margin, often with orange crescents.
Description
A very small butterfly with a pale brown or grey underside, adorned with a series of black spots and a distinctive row of iridescent blue-green spots, often capped with orange, along the hindwing margin.
