
Valais, Switzerland, May 2012

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.

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