Ábrahám Levente (szerk.): Válogatott tanulmányok XVIII. - Natura Somogyiensis 34. / Miscellanea 18. (Kaposvár, 2020)
Schmidt P. et al.: A faunistic contribution to the butterfly fauna of Oman (Lepidoptera: Diurna)
Schmidt et al.: A contribution to the butterfly fauna of Oman 181 Zizeeria knysna (Trimen, 1862) Material examined: 1 ex. / OMAN, Gov. Dhofar / 7 km W of Mirbat / N17°01.578' E54°39.322' /31m seashore, sand dunes / 03.11.2018 / leg. L. Ábrahám, S. Ilniczky. Distribution-. A pan-African species, which is present also in Northern Morocco and Northern Algeria, the Canary Islands, also the western part of the Arabian Peninsula. In Europe, it occurs much more sporadically in the southern half of the Iberian Peninsula and was also recorded on some Mediterranean islands (Sicily, Malta, Crete) (Tshikolovets 2011). In Oman, this species occurs only in Dhofar. In the northern part of the country, an Oriental sister species, Z. karsandra (Moore, 1865) replaces Z. knysna. So far, the sympatric occurrence was not detected (Larsen & Larsen 1980). Remarks: The adults of this species are fond of lucerne-fields, also habitats with some kind of permanent water (wells, water pipes, drains, etc.). The larvae feed on various Medicago, Melilotus, Armeria and Leguminosae species (Larsen & Larsen 1980). Zizula hylax (Fabricius, 1775) Material examined: 1 ex. / OMAN, Gov. Dhofar / 2 km E of Rakhyuth / N16°44.968' E53°26.256' / 22 m seashore / 31.10.2018 / leg. L. Ábrahám, S. Ilniczky; 2 exx. / OMAN, Gov. Dhofar / 20 km W of Mughsayl / N16°50.051' E53°42.552' / 34 m seashore, dry rocky vegetation / 01.11.2018 / leg. L. Ábrahám, S. Ilniczky; 1 ex. / OMAN, Gov. Dhofar / Wadi Shaboun / N17°32.83’ E54°38.78' / 386 m dry forest / 01.05.2019 / leg. L. Ábrahám, S. Ilniczky, G. Körtési. Distribution: It is distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, through Arabia and Asia to eastern and southern Australia. In the Arabian Peninsula, its distribution is limited to the Dhofar region in Oman. It was discovered recently on the island of Socotra in 2013 (Fric & Hula 2013). Remarks: According to the literature, Z. hylax is a moderately common butterfly in Dhofar. Host plants include various members of the families Oxalidaceae and Acanthaceae (Larsen & Larsen 1980). Azanus jesous (Guérin, 1847) Material examined: 1 ex. / OMAN, Gov. Dhofar, Jabal al Qara W of Al Mughsayl / N16°51.243' E53°43.149' 496 m, grassy hillside / 20.04.2008 / leg. S. Ilniczky, S. J. Simonyi; 2 exx. / OMAN Prov. Dhofar / Wadi Shaboun /N17°32.83’ E54°38.78' / 386 m dry forest / 01.05.2019 / leg. L. Ábrahám, S. Ilniczky, G. Körtési. Distribution: It is widespread in the dry tropical African countries, occurring also in Morocco, Cyprus and in Middle East, through Arabia to India and Sri Lanka. The African Babul Blue can be found in all parts of Oman. Remarks: A rather common species across the country. Two further closely related Azanus species also occur in Oman, but they are much scarcer and found only from Dhofar with certainty. All three Azanus are found in dry grassy habitats ranging from deserts, savannahs and thorn scrub, to clearings in the drier forests. The larval foodplants are Acacia (mostly A. tortilis and A. ehrenhergiana in Oman) and Entida species (Larsen & Larsen 1980, Tshikolovets 2011).
