Lysandra hispana

Var, France, May 2004 - male

Var, France, May 2006 - female

Var, France, May 2006 - male

Var, France, May 2006 - female

Provence Chalk Hill Blue
Lysandra hispana
(Polyommatus) (hispanus)

Distribution: S Pyrenees, E coast of Spain, S coast of France to Lyon and NW Italy.

Identification: There are various theories about how to separate this butterfly from the Chalk Hill Blue, L. coridon. However, I have not been convinced by any of them as both species are extremely variable. It is often said that the blue in hispana is greyer than coridon and the ground colour of underside forewing is uniform in grey in hispana and in coridon it is brown near the base becoming pale or white in the post discal areas. No one claims to be able to separate the females of these two species.

The best bet is to find hispana in the spring brood (April/ May) when coridon doesn't fly. In the second brood it will fly in the same locations as coridon and identification becomes, frankly, impossible.

Flight time: Double brooded flying in spring (April/May) and again in high summer (July to October).

Habitat: Dry grassland on chalk or limestone. Occasionally also on non-calcarious soils. Larvae feed on Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) and are attended by ants.

Behaviour: Frequently at nectar.

Additional notes: Please let me know if you find or know of a way of separating this species from L. coridon!