Tarucus sybaris

The tiny Dotted Blue butterfly – it has a wingspan of only about 2.5cm – may be seen throughout the year but they’re much more numerous during spring, summer and early autumn. They fly slow and low to the ground, settling often on small flowers and muddy patches of ground. Larvae feed on the leaves of the buffalo thorn tree and its close relatives. In South Africa they are found from the Eastern Cape, through the Free State, Kwazulu-Natal, North West and Gauteng to Limpopo and Mpumalanga, indicative of their preference for grassland and savanna habitats.

Dotted Blue

Dotted Blue male in flight

Dotted Blue male in flight

Dotted Blues