Tongeia filicaudis
Common NameTongeia filicaudis
Scientific NameTongeia filicaudis
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorswhite, black, orange
HabitatOpen grassy areas, forest edges, clearings, hillsides
Geographic RangeEast Asia (China, Korea, Japan)
Host PlantsLespedeza spp.
Flight PeriodJune to September
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Larvae feed on specific host plants, often Fabaceae, and may have myrmecophilous associations with ants.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its small size, pale underside coloration, extensive black spotting, and the prominent orange patch on the hindwing tornus. The 'thread-tailed' epithet refers to very short or absent tails.
Description
A very small butterfly with pale whitish-blue undersides, heavily marked with numerous black spots across both forewings and hindwings. The hindwing features a distinct orange patch near the tornus, bordered by black spots.
