Anthene definita
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
Anthene definita, the common ciliate blue or common hairtail, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Africa. The wingspan is 21–27 mm for males and 24–29 mm for females. Adults are on wing year-round in warmer areas, with a peak in summer.
The larvae feed on Allophylus africanus, Pappea capensis, Mangifera indica, Myrica aethiopica, Myrica sericea, Acacia karroo, Acacia cyanophylla, Acacia saligna, Paraserianthus lophanta, Schotia, Bersama and Kalanchoe species. The larvae are associated with ants of the genus Iridomyrmyx. Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Addo Elephant National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 2 | Table Mountain National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Garden Route National Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Ciliate Blue sighting in Cape Town on a given day, based on 48 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 82nd most-seen of the 311 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
April–July, September and November–December
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Ciliate Blue in Cape Town on a given day, against under 5% in January–March, August and October, the lowest months.
Between 11 am and 2 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Common Ciliate Blue sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Yes
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Common Ciliate Blue sightings, Cape Town has the highest daily chance: about 10%. Next come Durban (South Africa, under 5%).
Same family: Lycaenidae
The closest relatives of the Common Ciliate Blue that you can see in Cape Town (family Lycaenidae, Gossamer-winged Butterflies) are African Grass Blue (about 20%), Geranium Bronze (about 10%) and Water Geranium Bronze (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Common Ciliate Blue is recorded against all the insects logged in Cape Town (48 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
