Lampides boeticus (Linnaeus)

Taxonomic position

Insecta: Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae

Common names

Pea blue butterfly, long tailed blue

Habitat / Crop(s) damaged

Pigeonpea, field bean, cowpea, lablab, peas, sunhemp, and several other hosts in Leguminosae.

The larvae feed on flowers and young pods, especially in lablab, cowpea and pigeonpea and round boreholes are seen on affected pods. The larvae are pale green with a rough skin and often attended by black ants.

Another closely related species, Euchrysops cnejus ("gram blue"), often occurs on the same host plants, but its larva is pale greenish or yellowish and flattened with a dorsal red line and short black hairs.

Pest status

Minor.

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