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Cupido minimus

Small (Little) Blue

Field Notes

Valais, Switzerland, May/ June 2009

Valais, Switzerland, June 2009
A large group congregating to take salts in high mountains.

Valais, Switzerland, July 2008

Vaud, Switzerland, May 2008

Var, France, April 2006

Var, France, April 2006

Vaud, Switzerland, May 2007

Vaud, Switzerland, June 2007

Valais, Switzerland, 2400m, June 2005

Alpes Maritimes, France, May 2004

Valais, Switzerland, June 2008

Piedmont, Italy, July 2004

Valais, Switzerland, May 2004

Female on larval food plant.

Vaucluse, France, May, 2005

Valais, Switzerland, May 2004

Valais, Switzerland, June 2004

Could be another species?

Valais, Switzerland, May 2004

Slovensky Kras, Slovakia, July 2001

Female, apparently taking salt.

Slovensky Kras, Slovakia, July 2001

Group taking salts.

Hampshire, UK, June 2000

Photo retained to demonstrate that black spot near anal angle is present in some minimus without question - Everes alcetas also has this spot but doesn't fly in the UK.

This is one of Europe's smallest butterflies. It measures little over 10mm in wingspan. Both sexes are rather dull brown on the upperside, the male has some blue basal scales. It is widespread and can be common. The larvae feed on the seeds of Kidney Vetch and the adults can usually be found where this plant grows. It flies from northern Spain to Greece and Scandinavia. In its northern range it is missing from large areas.

There are several species with which it can be confused but only the Osiris Blue, C. osiris shares the same range. The males of osiris are a bright blue and hence can be readily distinguished from minimus. They are also larger and there are subtle underside differences in the "straightness" of the rows of post discal spots. I prefer to find a male to be sure though. Even if the butterfly doesn't open its wings at rest, the blue is obvious in flight.

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