Everes alcetas

Valais, Switzerland, May 2006
Male

Valais, Switzerland, July 2006

Vaud, Switzerland, August 2006
Female

Provencal Short Tailed Blue
Everes alcetas (also Cupido alcetas)

Distribution: From N Spain and central France to Slovakia and Romania. Also N Greece and neighbouring areas.

Identification: The three "Short Tailed Blues" (genus Everes, some say now belong to Cupido) are separated from the "Small Blues" (genus Cupido) by the presence of short tails on the hindwing. At the base of the tails there is a small kink in the hindwing margin and in the populations (e.g. Valais, Switzerland) or individuals that do not have tails this is a key ID feature. All three share much of their range except the Eastern Short Tailed Blue which flies eastwards from Austria and Greece.

Short Tailed Blue, Everes argiades. Usually with orange spots near the base of the tails on the underside hindwing. Upperside of male with relatively broad black borders. Upperside of female with extensive blue.

Provencal Short Tailed Blue, Everes alcetas. No or very little orange on the underside. Upperside of male with thin black borders. Upperside of female brown with hint of basal blue.

Eastern Short Tailed Blue, Everes decoloratus. No orange on the underside. Upperside of male with broad black border, extending along the veins. Upperside of female brown with hint of basal blue. Upperside of male

Flight time: Two or three broods - May/June, July/August and reportedly September.

Habitat: Grassy flowery places usually near woodland. Larvae take Coronilla varia and Galega officinalis.