Gram Blue

Euchrysops cnejus

The caterpillars form a symbiotic relationship with ants, which protect them from predators in exchange for sweet honeydew secretions.

Scientific name: Euchrysops cnejus
Taxonomy: Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Lycaenidae › Euchrysops
IUCN Red List status: Least Concern
Population trend: stable
Biome: grassland
Habitat: Open grasslands, agricultural fields (especially legume crops), gardens, and scrublands.
Diet: Caterpillars feed on leguminous plants (Cajanus, Vigna, Phaseolus); adults feed on floral nectar.
Range: India, Southeast Asia, Australia, Pacific Islands
Size: Wingspan of 25 to 34 mm.
Lifespan: Adults live for 1 to 2 weeks; entire life cycle takes about 3 to 4 weeks.
Active: diurnal
Threats: Pesticide overuse in agriculture, habitat loss due to intensive monoculture and urbanization.
Safe to approach?: Completely harmless. Enjoy watching its rapid, erratic flight from any distance. Do not attempt to catch or handle, as their delicate wings can easily lose scales, hindering flight. No medical action is needed if touched.

Euchrysops cnejus , the gram blue , is a small butterfly found in India that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family.

Photo: Firos AK, CC-BY, via iNaturalist