No doubt they've been there, all along, however it's the first photograph of one that I've managed to get.
I just adore Common Blues and their many variations. We have just a few in New Zealand, however they are nevertheless beautiful. They are so tiny and flicky and I know most people don't even see them as they flick about their merry way.
Zizina otis labradus is probably our most common butterfly (originally wind blown from Australia) It is a small butterfly (up to 23mm wingspan) with a weak, fluttering flight and so it usually flies close to ground level close to a food source. In some areas it is considered a pest species and one trail recorded over 300 larvae per square metre on drought-prone pasture. They lay a single eggs which are laid and can hatch in a matter of days. The eggs are laid on leaves, stems, flower buds and young pods of food plants, chiefly legumes of the Fabaceae family such as beans, clover and various native species. Newly hatched larvae eat small holes from young leaves or flower buds, and later feed mainly inside flowers. REF: TERRAIN.NET For more details visit: http://nzbutterfly.info/downloads/nzButterfly.info-factsheet-common-blue.pdf |