Bug FAQGrey Smoky Blue
Euchrysops malathana · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Lycaenidae
Also called: Common Smoky Blue, Smoky Bean Cupid
The common smoky blue, Euchrysops malathana, is a small Lycaenid butterfly. Its wingspan ranges from about 22 mm to 31 mm, with females slightly larger than males. It lives across south-western Arabia and sub-Saharan Africa, including Madagascar, and adults can be seen all year, especially from December to May in South Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Males have a wingspan of 22 to 30 mm and females 23 to 31 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It inhabits south-western Arabia and the African region south of the Sahara, including Madagascar.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing throughout the year, with a peak in activity from December to May in South Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen year-round, especially from December to May in South Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its native range covers south-western Arabia and sub-Saharan Africa, extending to Madagascar.
Source: Wikipedia
Questions people ask
What do the caterpillars eat?
The caterpillars feed on legumes such as Sphenostylis, Medicago, Psidium, Canavalia and Vigna species.
Source: Wikipedia
When are adult smoky blues most active?
Adults are present all year, but are most common from December through May in South Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Lycaenidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euchrysops_malathana
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.