Resident Butterfly on my Lantana camara

[wengchun]

I think this should be a Pygmy Grass Blue (Zizula hylax).

This species have been attracted to the Lantana camara in front of my house ever since I planted the plant years ago.

[Commander]

Yes, that's a Pygmy Grass Blue. Lantana is one of the caterpillar host plants of this species, and that's why the butterfly is attracted to it. The adults also feed on the nectar from the flowers.

[wengchun]

Yes, that's a Pygmy Grass Blue. Lantana is one of the caterpillar host plants of this species, and that's why the butterfly is attracted to it. The adults also feed on the nectar from the flowers.

thanks for the confirmation. i wonder why other species doesn't come to this plant in front of my house except for the Pygmy Grass Blue.

[Commander]

We've noticed that the favourite Lantana that attracts more butterflies than the others, is the orange-red variety. The white and yellow ones attract the least, whilst the pink ones are not as good. So if you want to grow Lantana to attract butts, go for the orange-red ones.

Also, the small-leafed cultivars are virtually useless. Go for the big-leafed Lantanas.

[wengchun]

We've noticed that the favourite Lantana that attracts more butterflies than the others, is the orange-red variety. The white and yellow ones attract the least, whilst the pink ones are not as good. So if you want to grow Lantana to attract butts, go for the orange-red ones.

Also, the small-leafed cultivars are virtually useless. Go for the big-leafed Lantanas.

Well, that's what I have planted. orange-red flowers and the leafs are big too. I'm planning to collect a few flowering plants. Let's see if I'm successful attracting more species.

[Painted Jezebel]

Also, the small-leafed cultivars are virtually useless. Go for the big-leafed Lantanas.

Have to disagree here. My small leafed Lantana is a magnet for many species, including most of the Crows, Autumn Leaf, Catopsillia species, Cephrenes Potanthus, Suastus, Pelopidas sps and Dryas iulia, etc, etc.

[Psyche]

Have to disagree here. My small leafed Lantana is a magnet for many species, including most of the Crows, Autumn Leaf, Catopsillia species, Cephrenes Potanthus, Suastus, Pelopidas sps and Dryas iulia, etc, etc.

Les, what colours are the flowers of your plant. I used to have a pot of a dwarf variety which have colouful magenta, pink and orange flowers, and this attracts nothing, not even the Zizula. These dwarf cultivars are supposed to be of a different species, which I think is Lantana montevideo or something like that.

TL Seow

[Psyche]

You got it right. I remember the female always oviposits on the Lantana flowerheads, but I have never seen the cats anywhere.

TL Seow

[wengchun]

You got it right. I remember the female always oviposits on the Lantana flowerheads, but I have never seen the cats anywhere.

TL Seow

on the flower? ok. will search carefully. I just trimmed the plant this morning and throw all the rest. probably along with the cats.

[Psyche]

on the flower? ok. will search carefully. I just trimmed the plant this morning and throw all the rest. probably along with the cats.

It lays eggs on the small unopened flower buds.

TL Seow