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Azanus jesous

African Babul Blue

Field Notes

Peter Rowlings

Agadir, Morocco, March 2001

This species is nearly guaranteed wherever Acacia trees grow in very hot places in Morocco from the southern slopes of the High Atlas mountains and southwards and on the planes of the north. Even single Acacias appear to harbour an individual or two. They fly very rapidly around the bushes/ trees always (?) settling with wings closed in the full blaze of the sun.

In the deep south it is said to fly with the Desert Babul Blue, A. ubaldus, but we didn't find it in March. This may have been a little early for the latter species even in the heat of the desert at that time of year.

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