Lysandra coridon nufrellensis
Corsican Chalk Hill Blue
Corsica, France, July 2012
Bright blue of the male.
Corsica, France, July 2012
All females are of this gorgeous blue form.
Field notes and information
A rare and extremely local taxon only found in a very small area in the mountains of NW Corsica. It was first found in 1975 but then not seen again until 2001.
Just as remarkably, no Hippocrepis species were known from the area. This are the typical food plants for the chalk hill blue P. coridon. Only in 2011 was a species of Hippocrepis new to science discovered and subsequently shown to be the plant exploited by nufrellensis.
Identification & Similar species: This subspecies has a bright blue males and most (all?) females are blue too. There are no similar species on Corsica.
Distribution & Flight: Only found in NW Corsica in the vicinity of Mt. Muvrella (the name nufrellensis is a corruption of Muvrella) and just to the west in the Fango valley, in difficult to reach areas. It is an uncommon butterfly rarely encountered.
Habitat & Behaviour: An unusual subspecies of the chalk hill blue P. coridon in that it flies on non calcareous substrates. The habitat is steep inaccessible rocky mountains.
During the flight period, Corsica is very hot and dry and there are few nectar plants in the habitat. The yellow flowers of the sunflower Doronicum corsicum that can be found in the very few damp areas in the region are a magnet for this and other species.
Corsica, France, July 2012
Male underside is pale.
Corsica, France, July 2012
Female underside is brown.
Corsica, France, July 2012
Corsica, France, July 2012
Some individuals have greatly reduced underside spotting. Here nectaring with Bellier's blue Plebejus bellieri.
Corsica, France, July 2012
With Corsican heath Coenonympha corina.
Corsica, France, July 2012
With common and holly blues Polyommatus icarus, Celastrina argiolus.
Corsica, France, July 2012
Almost all the habitat is inaccessible cliffs.
Corsica, France, July 2012
The stream was really the only place where nectar plants were found. They attracted many butterflies.
Corsica, France, July 2012
Female.
Corsica, France, July 2012
Corsica, France, July 2012
Female.