(Freyer, 1844)
Little Tiger Blue
Description:
The Little Tiger Blue is mostly found where its food plant Christ's Thorn (Paliurus spina-christi) is growing, in open scrub, and in agricultural areas where it is used as hedging plant. On Cyprus, it also occurs on another prickly plant, Jujube (Ziziphus lotus).
The caterpillars eat from the underside of the leaves, making parallel grooves that look like translucent "windows" from above. Because of their quick flight and small size, these butterflies are scarcely noticeable.
They have several generations a year and hibernate in the pupal stage.
Habitat:
Phrygana vegetation
Sclerophyllous scrub
Similar species:
Tarucus theophrastus