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False Baton Blue
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High Atlas, Morocco, July 2005, 2000m |
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Anti Atlas, Morocco, March 2001 |
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Madrid, Spain,
May 2009 |
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False Baton
Blue Distribution: North Africa and sporadic in southern and central Spain and Portugal. In N Africa it is widespread and common in spring. I've never found it in Europe. Identification: Closely similar to the other Pseudophilotes species but only shares its distribution with Panoptes Blue, P. panoptes. Refer to the Baton Blue, P. baton for more details on separation. Flight time: In Europe, only in spring (April/May). In North Africa double brooded in spring and in late summer at elevated levels. Habitat: Hot dry grassy places amongst open woodland or scrub. In N Africa I've generally found it near water and trees e.g. around irrigated fields or in oases deeper in the desert. Larvae take Thyme and one or two other low growing plants. In Spain, the larval food plant is Cleonia lusitanica. Behaviour: Flies low amongst rocks and dry grass where its very small size renders it difficult to track with the eye. |
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Madrid, Spain,
May 2009 Habitat and larval food plant: Cleonia lusitanica |
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Anti Atlas, Morocco, March 2001 |
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Anti Atlas, Morocco, March 2001 |
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