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Glaucopsyche alexis

Green-underside Blue

Field Notes

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Kozani, Greece, May 2004

 

Valais, Switzerland, April 2008

 

Valais, Switzerland, May 2005

Female

 

Green Underside Blue
Glaucopsyche alexis

Distribution: Europe except UK, central and northern Scandinavia. Mountains of Algeria and NE Tunisia.

Identification: The underside is a pale silvery blue with small black spots. Basal area is extensively blue or greenish. Male upperside black boarders broaden towards the forewing apex. Female brown with basal blue. Underside forewing has a curving row of spots that uniquely curves towards the anal angle. These spots are also large.

Flight time: Usually April and May although reported in June and even July.

Habitat: Grassy flowery places, often dry in the Mediterranean region. Often amongst scrub or woodland.

Behaviour: Frequently visits flowers but also takes salts from mud, droppings and carrion. We found around 30 individuals (all males) on a dead horse in Greece - too repulsive to approach for photography.

 

Cluj, Romania, May 2009

 

Valais, Switzerland, April 2009

Female

 

Savoie, France, May 2005

Male

 

Var, France, May 2005

 

Alpes-Maritimes, France, May 2004

Unique line of black forewing spots clearly start discally near
the costa and move outwards.

 

Lesbos, Greece, April 2005

Heavy black marginal markings.

 

Valais, Switzerland, May 2006

 

Valais, Switzerland, May 2004

 

Kozani, Greece, May 2004

 

Rhodopi Mts, Greece, May 2004

 

Kozani, Greece, May 2004

Female

 

Kozani, Greece, May 2004

 

Kozani, Greece, May 2004

Two alexis on the right taking salts on dung. Keeping good company
with three P. bavius, a C. minimus (bottom right behind the leaf!)
and a Speckled Yellow moth.

 

Provence, France, June 2003

 


 

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