Tarucus balkanicus

Tarucus balkanicus, the Balkan Pierrot or little tiger blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family. It is found in Mauritania, Niger (the Aïr region), Sudan (Khartoum), Uganda, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, North Africa, the Balkans, western Asia, parts of central Asia and in India. The habitat consists of very arid savanna.

The larvae feed on Ziziphus species.

Subspecies

 * T. b. balkanicus (Mauritania, Niger: Aïr region, Sudan, Uganda, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Algeria, south-eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Middle East, Syria, Iran, North Africa)
 * T. b. areshana Bethune-Baker, [1918] (Kopet-Dagh)
 * T. b. alternatus Moore, 1882 (Ghissar, Darvaz)
 * T. b. nigra Bethune-Baker, 1918 - Black-spotted pierrot (Baluchistan, Saurasthtra, Delhi, Peshawar, Simla Hills, C.India)

Description
Underside: Tailed.White with a prominent black streak from the base of both wings. Markings normally black. Continuous sub marginal bands of connected black streaks.

Upperside: Male always with discal spots and spot at cell-end on forewing. Mostly dark blue with a narrow border.

Female: Brownish grey with dark markings.