Kauaʻi record · KCA-IA-00634
Pea Blue / Long-tailed Blue
Lampides boeticus
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About Pea Blue / Long-tailed Blue
Pea Blue / Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) is a member of Lycaenidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced.
Pea Blue / Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) is documented from Kauaʻi. Lycaenid butterflies are small day-flying butterflies. Caterpillars feed on species-specific host plants and in some species interact with ants. On Kauaʻi, observations are most useful when they record larval host, ant associations if any, adult sex, flower use, and immature stages. Where island-specific host, prey, breeding-site, abundance, or seasonal information is not yet firmly documented, those details should remain tied to direct specimens and field observations rather than inferred from populations elsewhere.
Pea Blue / Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) is an introduced butterfly common on Kauaʻi. Caterpillars feed on legumes; males and females differ in the amount of blue on the upper wings.
Kauaʻi occurrence evidence: BAMONA has repeated verified Kauaʻi records through 2026 and identifies the species as introduced to Hawaiʻi; a Māhāʻulepū Kauaʻi survey found it numerous and documented local legume hosts.
The cited occurrence evidence does not by itself establish current abundance or population trend on Kauaʻi.
Life cycle
Egg; caterpillar; pupa; adult.
Habitat
Open vegetation, gardens, coasts, roadsides, and other sites with larval hosts and nectar plants.
Food and ecological role
Larvae feed on host plants; adults use nectar.
Reproduction
Females place eggs on suitable host plants.
Movement
Adults are active day-fliers.
Ecosystem role
Herbivore as larva and flower visitor/pollinator as adult.
Threats and impacts
Effects depend on host use and abundance.
Monitoring
Record larval host, ant associations if any, adult sex, flower use, and immature stages.
Names and classification
- Scientific name
- Lampides boeticus
- Common names
- Pea Blue / Long-tailed Blue
- Family
- Lycaenidae
- Order
- Lepidoptera
- Record type
- species
Kauaʻi occurrence and status
- Kauaʻi occurrence
- Present
- Origin
- Introduced
- Conservation status
- Not assessed
Process and seasonal context
- Seasonal description
- Pea Blue / Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) is a member of Lycaenidae in the order Lepidoptera. Its recorded origin status on Kauaʻi is introduced.