Identification
Below, "zebra-striped" pattern and two dark spots on the hind wing, rimmed with orange, are distinctive.
Above, male is purple-blue with a thin black border and white wing fringe, and a faint dark marginal spot on the hind wing. Female is light blue with a broad gray border and two dark marginal wing spots on the hind wing.
Larva is green and slug-shaped with a darker green stripe along the back flanked by paler green diagonal pattern
Range
Abundant year-round resident in southern Florida, strays northwards, only occasionally seen north of FL border.
(1) Also West Indies and South Texas to Argentina
(2).
Habitat
Open, disturbed, weedy sites, vacant lots, forest edges and gardens.
(1)Food
Larvae feed on various legumes including Wild Tamarind (Lysiloma latisliqua), Leadwort (Plumbago spp.), Blackbead (Pithecellobium sp.) and Milk Peas (Galactia spp.).
