Story: Butterflies and moths

Long-tailed blue butterfly

Long-tailed blue butterfly

This long-tailed blue butterfly (Lampides boeticus) is on flowering gorse. It lays its eggs in unopened gorse flower buds. When the larva hatches it eats much of the flower. The species was first observed in New Zealand in 1965. It is self-introduced so is considered native, and is also found in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and islands of the Pacific, including Hawaii.

Using this item

Department of Conservation
Reference: 10042782
Photograph by George W. Gibbs

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How to cite this page:

Brian Patrick, 'Butterflies and moths - New Zealand’s butterflies and moths', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/10527/long-tailed-blue-butterfly (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Brian Patrick, published 24 Sep 2007