Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767)

Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767) View in CoL ( Lycaenidae ) **

L4; 24/V/2019, perch. on G. linifolia , 8 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 05/VI/2019, 5 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 17/VI/2019, 3 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 16/VII/2019, nect. on cultivated Thymus sp. , 1 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 08/V/2020, nect. on G. linifolia , 11 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 22/V/2020, nect. on G. linifolia and C. crispus , 15 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 29/V/2020, nect. on G. linifolia , 12 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 17/VI/2020, egg-laying observed on G. linifolia , 19 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 19/VI/2020, nect. on G. linifolia , 23 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 06/VII/2020, perch. on G. monspessulana , G. linifolia , and C. coronata , 19 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 22/IV/2021, nect. on G. linifolia , 3 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 07/X/2021, nect. on D. viscosa , very fresh, 21 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 13/X/2021, nect. on D. viscosa , 7 ex. v., JLR.; L4; 16/VI/2022, 3 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 07/VI/2019, perch. on S. junceum and Coronilla coronata L., 10 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 21/VI/2019, nect. on S. junceum and G. linifolia , 5 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 30/X/2019, perch. on P. lentiscus , 5 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 18/XII/2019, 3 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 29/IV/2020, nect. on S. junceum , 8 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 23/V/2020, nect. on G. linifolia and S. junceum , 1 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 06/V/2021, nect. on S. junceum , 3 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 10/XI/2021, nect. on L. dentata , 8 ex. v., JLR.; L5; 19/III/2019, 1 ex. v., EZ.; L6; 06/V/2021, nect. on L. dentata , 4 ex. v., JLR.; L6; 10/XI/2021, nect. on L. dentata , 12 ex. v., JLR.; L12; 21/VI/2020, nect. on L. stoechas , C. crispus , C. corymbosa , and C. villosa , 23 ex. v., JLR.; L13; 08/V/2021, nect. on G. linifolia , 2 ex. v., JLR.; L13; 29/VI/2023, 6 ex. v., JLR.; L14; 22/VI/2019, nect. on D. gnidium , 7 ex. v., JLR.; L14; 13/VI/2020, nect. on G. monspessulana , G. linifolia , and C. villosa , 28 ex. v., JLR.; L14; 25/VII/2020, nect. on R. ulmifolius , 4 ex. v., JLR.; L14; 16/V/2021, 4 ex. v., JLR.; L14; 17/X/2021, nect. on D. viscosa , 6 ex. v., JLR.; L17; 03/V/2019, perch. and flying over G. linifolia , 6 ex. v., JLR.; L23; 15/V/2021, 1 ex. v., JLR.; L28; 12/VII/2020, 1 ex. v., JLR.; L34; 04/V/2023, 8 ex. v., JLR.; L35; 22/V/2019, 3 ex. v., JLR.; L35; 26/V/2019, 4 ex. v., JLR.; L36; 28/II/2020, 1 ex. v., JLR.; L36; 29/VI/2020, 2 ex. v., JLR.; L36; 25/III/2021, 3 ex. v., JLR.; L36; 17/X/2021, 2 ex. v., JLR.; L36; 05/V/2023, 17 ex. v., JLR.; L36; 20/XI/2023, very worn, 7 ex. v., JLR.; L37; 09/VI/2021, 2 ex. v., JLR.; L41; 28/VI/2019, nect. on M. suaveolens and R. ulmifolius , 10 ex. v., JLR.; L41; 05/VII/2019, nect. on M. suaveolens and R. ulmifolius , 16 ex. v., JLR.; L41; 27/IX/2019, nect. on M. suaveolens and R. ulmifolius , 9 ex. v., JLR.; L41; 10/VII/2020, nect. on R. ulmifolius , L. rectus , and M. suaveolens , 19 ex. v., JLR.; L41; 14/V/2021, perch. on L. rectus , 4 ex. v., JLR.; L43; 07/VI/2019, 5 ex. v., JLR.; L43; 15/VII/2019, nect. on R. ulmifolius , very worn, 1 ex. v., JLR.; L44; 06/VI/2019, perch. on Genista monspeliensis , 2 ex. v., JLR.; L60; 15/IX/2019, nect. on L. rectus , 1 ex. v., JLR.; L62; 03/IX/2019, 1 ex. v., EZ.; L63; 12/VI/2021, nect. on G. linifolia , 2 ex. v., JLR.; L66; 26/V/2019, 10 ex. v., JLR.; L66; 06/VI/2020, nect. on S. boivinii and L. stoechas , 11 ex. v., JLR.; L66; 21/VI/2020, nect. on L. stoechas , C. crispus , and perch. on C. villosa , G. linifolia , and Q. suber , 52 ex. v., JLR.; L69; 23/III/2019, 1 ex. v., EZ.; L73; 06/VI/2020, nect. on D. gerardi and L. stoechas , 16 ex. v., JLR.; L73; 11/V/2019, 2 ex. v., JLR.; L74; 11/V/2019, 1 ex. v., JLR.; L82; 26/IX/2021, nect. on L. rectus , M. suaveolens , and D. viscosa , 18 ex. v., JLR.; L88; 06/VI/2020, nect. on M. suaveolens , 4 ex. v., JLR.; L92; 23/III/2019, 1 ex. v., EZ.; L112; 02/VII/2020, nect. on Trifolium sp. and Leontodon sp. in a lawn bed, 8 ex. v., JLR.; L113; 01/XI/2023, 1 ex. v., JLR.; L124; 10/VI/2020, 5 ex. v., JLR.; L130; 07/V/2023, 8 ex. v., JLR.; L130; 16/VI/2020, 15 ex. v., JLR.; L132; 20/VI/2020, nect. on V. karroo , G. linifolia , and perch. on P. lentiscus , 57 ex. v., JLR.; L132; 14/VII/2020, nect. on V. karroo , 9 ex. v., JLR.; L132; 13/VI/2022, nect. on V. karroo , 2 ex. v., JLR.; L133; 19/IV/2021, 1 ex. v., JLR.; L134; 16/VI/2020, nect. on P. lophantha , 9 ex. v., JLR.; L139; 15/V/2019, nect. on R. ulmifolius , 1 ex. v., JLR.; L139; 29/VI/2019, nect. on R. ulmifolius , 5 ex. v., JLR.; L141; 06/V/2020, 2 ex. v., JLR.; L145; 14/II/2021, nect. on G. linifolia , 2 ex. v., JLR.; L145; 01/XI/2023, nect. on D. viscosa , 2 ex. v., JLR.; L145; 05/XI/2023, nect. on D. viscosa , 1 ex. v., JLR.; L151; 02/X/2021, nect. on S. rosmarinus , 17 ex. v., JLR.; L151; 20/X/2021, nect. on S. rosmarinus , 9 ex. v., JLR.; L151; 09/IX/2023, nect. on S. rosmarinus , 19 ex. v., JLR.; L151; 24/IX/2023, nect. on S. rosmarinus , 23 ex. v., JLR.; L154; 11/IV/2021, perch. on G. linifolia , 7 ex. v., JLR.; L154; 26/V/2019, perch. on G. linifolia , 15 ex. v., JLR.; L154; 06/X/2019, perch. on G. linifolia , 2 ex. v., JLR.; L156; 29/IV/2024, nect. on P. maritima and flying over and perching on G. linifolia , 37 ex. v., JLR.; L157; 18/V/2020, nect. on G. linifolia , 7 ex. v., JLR.; L157; 09/VI/2020, nect. on G. linifolia , 6 ex. v., JLR.; L157; 23/III/2021, 3 ex. v., JLR.; L157; 02/X/2021, perch. on G. linifolia , 8 ex. v., JLR.

Comment: First records for Ceuta, with observations from 40 localities within 18 1× 1 km UTM squares, spanning February to December, peaking between April and July. Imagines have been observed feeding on G. linifolia , S. junceum , Thymus sp. , G. monspessulana , C. coronata , D. viscosa , P. lentiscus , L. rectus , M. suaveolens , R. ulmifolius , L. stoechas , C. crispus , C. corymbosa , P. maritima , C. villosa , D. gnidium , and P. lophantha . Additionally, egg-laying was detected on G. linifolia , a potential new host plant for the species ( Clarke, 2023), which may explain the observed concentrations of individuals on this legume.