Common Ciliate Blue

Common Ciliate Blue

Anthene definita

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Garden Route National Park

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~30%

6 Verified sightings at Garden Route National Park From 2019 to 2026
57 In all 3 parks
June Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Common Ciliate Blue

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 →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
3 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Cape Town 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
2 Durban 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Common Ciliate Blue in Garden Route National Park?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Common Ciliate Blue sighting in Garden Route National Park on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 236th most-seen of the 298 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 30%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Common Ciliate Blue in Garden Route National Park?

May–July and December

In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Common Ciliate Blue in Garden Route National Park on a given day, against under 5% in January–April and August–November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Common Ciliate Blue?

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.

Is Garden Route National Park the best place to see a Common Ciliate Blue?

3rd of 3

Of the 3 parks where we can rate Common Ciliate Blue sightings, Garden Route National Park ranks 3rd at under 5%. The best odds are in Addo Elephant National Park (South Africa, about 10%) and Table Mountain National Park (South Africa, under 5%).

Which relatives of the Common Ciliate Blue live in Garden Route National Park?

Same family: Lycaenidae

The closest relatives of the Common Ciliate Blue that you can see in Garden Route National Park (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.

Where does the Common Ciliate Blue sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Common Ciliate Blue is recorded against all the insects logged in Garden Route National Park (6 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), 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.

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