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The Southern Brown Argus (Aricia cramera) is a small, dark-brown butterfly found in Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Canary Islands. Similar to the Common Blue, it is distinguished by brown uppersides, orange marginal spots, and a, 28mm wingspan, flying in multiple, continuous broods from March to October.
Key Facts
Scientific Name: Aricia cramera.
Appearance: Both sexes are dark brown with a distinct orange lunule band on the margins of both wings. They often possess a specific spot configuration on the underwing (a "keyhole" spot on the hindwing) that differs from the similar Brown Argus (Aricia agestis).
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Habitat: Prefers sunny, dry open areas, flowery meadows, and rocky terrains on calcareous soils.
Range: Found in Morocco, Tunisia, Spain, Portugal, Italy (Sardinia), Mediterranean islands, and the Canary Islands.
Flight Period: March to October, with multiple overlapping generations.
Larval Food Plant: The larvae feed primarily on Geranium species, such as Erodium cicutarium.
Behaviour: Known to be territorial, with males often sitting on grass stems to check for mates.Key Identification PointsWingspan: 2.2 to 3 cm.
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Distinction: They resemble female Common Blues, but Aricia cramera generally lack the blue scales on the upper wing surface.Observation: They are often found in colonies and do not travel far from their breeding site.
Aricia cramera, the southern brown argus, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is a butterfly of Southern Europe and North Africa and can be found from Morocco and Tunisia up to Spain and Portugal, on Mediterranean islands including Menorca and on the Canary Islands.
The wingspan ranges to up to 30 mm. The butterfly flies from May to September depending on the location.
The larvae feed on Erodium, Helianthemum and Geranium species.
