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Osiris Blue
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Var, France, May
2004
Male |
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Var, France, May
2004
Uns of male
above |
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Valais,
Switzerland, June 2004
Female |
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Pyrénées
Orientales, France, May 2006
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Var, France, May
2004
Female |
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Var, France, May
2004
Female above |
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Var, France, May
2004 |
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Var, France, May
2004 |
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Var, France, May
2004 |
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Var, France, May
2004 |
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| This is a rather elusive
butterfly. I've not seen it for years and suddenly I found plenty in mid
May at very low altitudes (50m) in southern France. Normally I associate
this species with the summer in high mountains, perhaps this was where I
was going wrong. It is very variable in size, generally matching species
such as Brown Argus, Aricia agestis and Provence Short Tailed Blue,
Everes alectas but many specimens are as tiny as the smallest Small
Blue, C minimus. The undersides very closely resemble minimus,
but the spots on the forewing and 4 spots on the hindwing appear in
straight lines. This I think is distinctive on the underside. There is no
hint of a tail or bump on the hindwing that would represent a vestigial
tail, so often found in the Valais, Switzerland. Also there are no, or
extremely small marginal markings. The unequivocal distinguishing feature
is the bright blue upperside of the male, completely unlike the brown
minimus which may have only a dusting of blue basal scales on the
upperside. The female is brown on the upperside.
I found several colonies. In two places they were common in the small
area of the colony. They had a very distinct habit of landing on the
flower spikes of a small species of Sainfoin, turning to face head down in
the hotter parts of the day where they would rest for long periods without
movement and with their wings firmly shut. Earlier in the day (when I
could get more photos!) and in places where Sainfoin was not so common
they would rest on other plants and occasionally open their wings. Females
were relatively rare. |
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