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Showing posts with label ADONIS BLUE BUTTERFLY (Polyommatus bellargus). Show all posts
Showing posts with label ADONIS BLUE BUTTERFLY (Polyommatus bellargus). Show all posts

Monday, 11 August 2014

28-4-2014 MARXUQUERA, VALENCIA - ADONIS BLUE BUTTERFLY (Polyommatus bellargus)


The Adonis blue (Lysandra bellargus, also known as Polyommatus bellargus) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It inhabits the Palearctic realm (Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Southern Russia, Iraq, Iran, Caucasus, Transcaucasus, and Turkey).

It is found in chalk downland, in warm, sheltered spots, flying low over vegetation, seeking females that are rich chocolate brown in color. The male has brilliantly colored blue wings that give it its name.

The male has the upper side wings a brilliant sky blue, with a fine black line round the edge and a white margin. The female is chocolate brown with a few blue scales near the base, and with orange spots, bordered by blue scales, around the edge of the hind wing. The fringes are chequered both sexes. The underside is brownish grey with black and orange crescent spots. The wingspan is about 3 cm (1.2 in). The caterpillar reaches 1.6 centimetres (0.63 in) in length, has a dark green body with dark spines, and yellow bands along the back and sides.