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Spanish
Zephyr Blue,
Plebejus hespericus
Distribution: Extremely local S of Madrid, the Montes Universales, and
northern Sierra Nevada (if it is still found there)
Identification: The males are a distinctive bright hard blue, quite
unlike the Zephyr Blues from Switzerland (P. pylaon trappi) and Balkans (P.
pylaon sephirus). The undersides are lacking any blue centred eyespots found
in most other Plebejus species. No other similar butterflies fly with
them at the same time of year.
Flight time: May (Madrid), possibly later in the Montes Universales.
Habitat: Dry hillsides where the larval food plant,
Astragalus
alopecuroides, grows. This is a very local plant, but quite common
where found.
Behaviour: Does not stray from its food plant. This makes it very
difficult to find. Fortunately the food plant is very distinctive and is easier
to find than the butterfly!
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