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Field Notes

Geneve, June 2005

Male

Geneve, June 2005

A stunning female

Geneve, June 2005

Extremely well marked underside forewing showing the broad orange band, flanked by black marks, extending to the apex without a strong curvature near the apex.

Geneve, June 2005

Crown Vetch, Coronilla varia, the distinctive larval foodplant.

Geneva, Switzerland, June 2005

More images of the underside forewing showing well spaced parallel rows of black marks leading to the apex without curving significantly.

Geneva, Switzerland, June 2005

Huge variation in the amount of blue of the female upperside.

Geneva, Switzerland, June 2005

Male variation is much more limited to the amount of black markings
on the border areas.

Abruzzo Mts, Italy, May 2003

Bright orange markings, very pale almost white underside ground colour.

? argyrognomon or idas - comments please!

Abruzzo Mts, Italy, May 2003

Fine black borders to the male. Bright blue.

? argyrognomon or idas - comments please!

Abruzzo Mts, Italy, May 2003

A female with roughly the right amount of orange for argyrognomon
 but a little short of blue perhaps.

? argyrognomon or idas - comments please!

Abruzzo Mts, Italy, May 2003

? argyrognomon or idas - comments please!

In 2005 I was lucky enough to have been taken to a definite site for this butterfly. My guide had studied the genetalia of the Plebejus from this and nearby sites in a professional capacity and established that all individuals from the Geneva area are argyrognomon or argus. Thus, finally, I can be confident of identification of this species. It appears that the underside forewings hold a very strong indication for this species. The orange band is broad all the way to the apex and it does not curve strongly near the apex. This feature appears to hold good in central, eastern France but there is always the chance that the Idas Blue, P. idas, is extremely similar in some populations. Quite possibly it is indistinguishable without detailed local knowledge of distribution.

The butterfly is closely associated with its distinctive foodplant, Crown Vetch, Coronilla varia. The plant is much commoner than the butterfly - it is frequently seen at the side of roads, motorways and railways in large banks of dark green foliage with the distinctive pink flower head. However, the butterfly prefers abandoned fields where there is evidence of scrub regeneration. As such, the butterfly is likely to move around an area as sites become over grown and unsuitable for the foodplant.

This is a species for which I invite your comments! I think the photos from the Abruzzo Mts in May 2003 are argyrognomon but I'd like feedback on your thoughts. The butterflies above all had very bright almost white undersides with bright orange markings and the broad tramway of orange on the unf. They were flying at about 800m in the Apennines.

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