Langschwänziger Bläuling

<em>Leptotes pirithous</em>, the common zebra blue or Lang's short-tailed blue, is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is distributed across a wide range spanning southern Europe, the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East, and much of Africa and South Asia, making it one of the more geographically wide-ranging lycaenid butterflies. The species inhabits warm, open, and disturbed habitats including scrubland, gardens, roadsides, field margins, and dry grasslands, particularly where its larval host plants are abundant. The upperwing is pale violet-blue in males and predominantly brown in females, while the underwing surface displays the distinctive pale brown and white striped pattern that gives the butterfly its common name. Biological traits such as average adult lifespan, precise body weight, and detailed population estimates remain poorly documented in consolidated scientific literature. Larvae are associated with leguminous plants, particularly <em>Plumbago</em>, <em>Medicago</em>, and related genera, feeding on flowers and seeds. Adults are fast-flying and frequently visit flowers for nectar. The species is multivoltine in warm regions, producing multiple generations per year. <em>Leptotes pirithous</em> is assessed as Least Concern, reflecting its broad range and generalist habitat associations.