Sooty Blue

Afrikaans name: Duwweltjie-bloutjie

Photo © Steven Herbert

Zizeeria knysna

The Sooty Blue is a small little butterfly with a wingspan of around 2 cm. Males are more blue on top of the wings than females.

Although this is one of the vast family of 'blue' butterflies they do at first appear to be white with speckled markings. It is only when they open their wings, which is not often (other than when they are flying of course!) that the blue is evident.

This butterfly is very common and is most often found fluttering low over lawns.

The Sooty Blue is also known as the African Grass Blue.

Photo © Steven Herbert

References and further reading

The Life Histories of the South African Lycaenid Butterflies - Author: GC Clark & CGC Dickson - Published: 1971 - Page: 84

Whats That Butterfly - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2008 - Page: 1287

Illustrated Guide to the Game Parks and Nature Reserves of SA - 2nd edn - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1991 - Page: 398

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2020 - Page: 324

Gardening for Butterflies - Author: Steve Woodhall & Lindsay Gray - Published: 2015 - Page: 73

Field Guide to Butterflies of South Africa - 1st edition - Author: Steve Woodhall - Published: 2005 - Page: 310

Familiar South African Butterflies - Author: Clive Quickelberge - Published: 1986 - Page: 46

Butterflies of the Western Cape - Author: A.J.M. Claassens - Published: 2005 - Page: 46

Butterflies of Southern Africa - A field guide - Author: Mark Williams - Published: 1994 - Page: 218

Butterflies of the Kruger National Park - Author: Johan Kloppers and the late Dr. G. Van Son - Published: 1978 - Page: 56

For more info: The Virtual Museum

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