Pale Grass Blue

Pale Grass Blue (<i>Pseudozizeeria maha</i>, family: Lycaenidae)

Pale Grass Blue (Pseudozizeeria maha, family: Lycaenidae) is a small Lycaenidae (Gossamer-Winged Butterflies) butterfly, the same group of butterfly as small copper (Lycaena phlaeas daimio). The arrangement of the one or more rows of black spots along the edge and inside differ in each species of Lycaenidae. The larvae of pale grass blue feed on oxalis leaves.

Watch a video clip of the butterfly (Pale Grass Blue).


Pale Grass Blue

Pale Grass Blue

Pale Grass Blue, closed wings showing the ventral side




Life cycle of Pale Grass Blue, Pseudozizeeria maha



It all started when the butterfly laid eggs on the oxalis leaves. The butterfly shakes its wings violently and made a circlular motion on the leaves.

The egg was pearly white and cylindrical in shape. Radial grooves covers all over the egg on top and on its sides.


In a few days after, the larva hatched. The larva eats away the egg shells.


The larva soon moved away from the egg shell and start eating the leaves.


The photo shows the larva when it left the place it ate the part of the oxalis leave.

The pupa is shiny pale green in color and attached itself on the twig of the oxalis plant. The butterfly emerges in a several days from the pupa.