About Anthene amarah (Guérin-Méneville, 1847)
Anthene amarah, commonly called the black-striped hairtail, leaden hairtail, or leaden ciliate blue, is a butterfly species that belongs to the family Lycaenidae. This species is found in tropical Africa and Arabia, with its distribution reaching as far north as Aqaba. Its native habitat is primarily savanna, and it occasionally occurs in open areas within forest zones. Males of this species have a wingspan measuring 21 to 26 mm, while females have a slightly larger wingspan of 23 to 29 mm. Adult Anthene amarah are active year-round, with the largest population of active adults occurring in the summer. The larvae of this butterfly feed on plant species from the Acacia genus; these include Acacia karroo, Acacia sieberana, and Acacia gerrardii. The larvae are also associated with several species of ants, including Crematogaster bequaerti var. saga, Lepisiota affinis, and species from the Camponotus and Myrmicaria genera.
