![Photo: idas57.jpg](../pics/i/idas57.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, May 2012
![Photo: idas29.jpg](../pics/i/idas29.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, September 2010
Field notes and information
A widespread and common species, it is very similar to the silver studded blue, P. argus.
Identification & Similar species: See species page for silver studded blue, P. argus, for information on how to separate the current species from the idas and Reverdin's blues, P. idas & P. argyrognomon.
Distribution & Flight: Across most of Europe, except parts of Spain, south Italy and the UK. Not north Africa. It flies in a single brood, sometime double, generally between June and August.
Habitat & Behaviour: Diverse grassy flowery places upto alpine levels in open places grassy flowery places or scrub/ bushes.
Variation: The taxon Bellier's blue, P. bellieri , from Corsica is now usually promoted from a subspecies of P. idas to species.
The subspecies calliopis has relatively fine markings and is notable for using the bush sea buckthorn, Hippophae rhamnoides, as a larval food plant. This taxon is local in the Alps and may fly close to the nominate form which flies generally at higher altitudes here.
![Photo: idas26.jpg](../pics/i/idas26.jpg)
Vaud, Switzerland, August 2010
![Photo: idas119.jpg](../pics/i/idas119.jpg)
![Photo: idas118.jpg](../pics/i/idas118.jpg)
N Sweden, July 2022
![Photo: idas112.jpg](../pics/i/idas112.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, July 2020
![Photo: idas114.jpg](../pics/i/idas114.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, July 2021
![Photo: idas121.jpg](../pics/i/idas121.jpg)
![Photo: idas124.jpg](../pics/i/idas124.jpg)
![Photo: idas122.jpg](../pics/i/idas122.jpg)
![Photo: idas123.jpg](../pics/i/idas123.jpg)
N Norway, July 2022
![Photo: idas115.jpg](../pics/i/idas115.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, July 2021
![Photo: idas116.jpg](../pics/i/idas116.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, July 2021
![Photo: idas120.jpg](../pics/i/idas120.jpg)
N Norway, July 2022
![Photo: idas104.jpg](../pics/i/idas104.jpg)
![Photo: idas107.jpg](../pics/i/idas107.jpg)
![Photo: idas108.jpg](../pics/i/idas108.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, July 2019
![Photo: idas64.jpg](../pics/i/idas64.jpg)
![Photo: idas83.jpg](../pics/i/idas83.jpg)
![Photo: idas70.jpg](../pics/i/idas70.jpg)
Sierra Nevada, Spain, July 2013
![Photo: idas81.jpg](../pics/i/idas81.jpg)
![Photo: idas82.jpg](../pics/i/idas82.jpg)
Sierra Nevada, Spain, July 2013
![Photo: idas100.jpg](../pics/i/idas100.jpg)
Hautes-Pyrénées, France, July 2018
![Photo: idas106.jpg](../pics/i/idas106.jpg)
Valais, Switzerland, July 2019