Leptotes webbianus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Leptotes webbianus |
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The Canary blue (scientific name: Leptotes webbianus), also known as Cyclyrius webbianus, is a beautiful butterfly. It belongs to the Lycaenidae family, which includes many small, colorful butterflies. This butterfly is special because it is endemic to the Canary Islands. This means it can only be found naturally in the Canary Islands and nowhere else in the world!
Contents
What Does the Canary Blue Look Like?
The Canary blue butterfly is fairly small, with a wingspan of about 28 to 34 millimeters. That's roughly the length of a paperclip!
Colors of the Butterfly
- Female Canary blue butterflies have a lovely golden color.
- Male butterflies are usually dark brown. They have a bright blue area near their body, which makes them stand out.
- The underside of their wings is quite interesting. The front wings are yellowish-brown with white spots near the tip. The back wings are dark grey-brown with light stripes and an uneven white band.
Where Does the Canary Blue Live?
This butterfly lives only in the Canary Islands, a group of islands off the coast of Africa.
Its Habitat
The Canary blue butterfly likes to live in coastal areas. However, it can also be found in many different places, from the low plains to very high altitudes. It has been seen flying as high as 3,000 meters (about 9,800 feet) above sea level! You might even spot them sitting on lava rocks in areas with very little plant life.
When Can You See Them?
These butterflies are active all year round. They are especially common during the summer months, from March to August. They often fly around the branches of Tamarisk trees and visit flowers like Adenocarpus viscosus.
What Does the Canary Blue Eat?
Like all butterflies, the Canary blue has different diets depending on its life stage.
Larvae Food
When the Canary blue is a larva (a caterpillar), it eats plants. Its favorite foods include species from the Lotus, Cytisus, and Ononis plant families. They particularly enjoy the flowers of plants like Cytisus canariensis.
Adult Food
Adult Canary blue butterflies drink nectar from flowers. They are often seen visiting various flowers to get their energy.
Images for kids
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An illustration of the Canary blue butterfly from a historical book.
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See also
In Spanish: Manto de Canarias para niños
