The pea blue (Lampides boeticus), also known as the long-tailed blue, is a delightful butterfly belonging to the lycaenid family.

Etymology:
- The Latin species name, boeticus, refers to Baetica, a province of the Roman Empire in the Iberian Peninsula.
- Its common name, pea blue, comes from several features:
  - The long streamers on its hind wings.
  - The male’s bright iridescent blue color.
  - The fact that peas are the typical host plant for this butterfly ¹.
Distribution:
- The pea blue can be found in various regions:
  - Europe
  - Africa
  - South and Southeast Asia
  - Australia
  - It has even made its way to the Hawaiian islands.
  - Interestingly, it was first observed in New Zealand in November 1965, likely as a self-introduced species¹ ².
Habitat:
- These butterflies inhabit:
  - The edges of forests
  - Mountain meadows
  - Hot flowery places
  - They can be found at elevations of up to 2,700 meters (8,900 feet) above sea level¹.
Description:
- The wingspan of the pea blue varies:
  - Males: 24–32 mm
  - Females: 24–34 mm
- Sexual dimorphism is evident:
  - Males have a mainly blue-violet upper face of the wings with brown edges.
  - Females have only a small amount of blue color in the center of the wings.
- Both sexes have a thin, long tail in the hindwings and two black spots in the anal angle.
- The underface of the wings is ocher and adorned with white markings, including a larger white submarginal streak ¹.