| Kretania martini | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Kretania |
| Species: | K. martini |
| Binomial name | |
| Kretania martini (Allard, 1867) | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Kretania martini, or Martin's blue, is a species of North African butterfly in the family Lycaenidae and the subfamily Polyommatinae.
The species was first described by French entomologist Gaston Allard in 1867. He initially named the species Lycaena martini. [1] [2] The type specimen was from Lambaesis, in Algeria.
The species was placed in the genus Plebejus , and the subgenus Plebejides, [3] but was later moved to the genus Kretania , [4] along with other species placed in Plebejides.
Several subspecies have been described. [5]
The imago of the species is a small butterfly which is sexually dimorphic. The top of the male is blue purple with a thin black border and a white fringe, while that of the female is dark brown with a blue basal suffusion, white fringe, and a series of orange submarginal half moons and black marginal spots on the hindwings.
The underside of the wings is beige gray decorated with black spots circled in white, with a series of orange submarginal half moons bordered by black and white chevrons, and a series of black marginal spots.
The ornamentation resembles a similar species, Kretania allardii . [3]
Plants that host the species include Astragalus massiliensis and Acanthyllis numidia for K. m. martini, Astragalus incanus incurvus for K. m. ungemachi and Astragalus armatus for K. m. regularis. Astragalus alopecuroides and Astragalus nemorosus also host the species. The caterpillars exist in myrmecophily with ants from the genus Crematogaster. [6]
The species is present in Northern Africa, specifically Morocco and in northern Algeria. [3] [6]
It prefers fairly dry and flowery open environments, generally between 1,000 and 2,100 m above sea level. [3]
In Morocco, the subspecies Kretania martini ungemachi is considered vulnerable, and the subspecies K. m. regularis and K. m. mgouna endangered. [5]
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The chalkhill blue is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is a small butterfly that can be found throughout the Palearctic realm, where it occurs primarily in grasslands rich in chalk. Males have a pale blue colour, while females are dark brown. Both have chequered fringes around their wings.
Cyaniris semiargus, the Mazarine blue, is a Palearctic butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.
Polyommatus eros, the Eros blue or common meadow blue, is a species of blue butterfly found in the Palearctic.
Plebejus is a genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae. Its species are found in the Palearctic and Nearctic realms.
Kretania is a Palearctic genus of butterflies in the family Lycaenidae.
The Melissa blue is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in western North America, from Canada to Mexico. The Karner blue is a subspecies of the Melissa blue, and was described by the novelist/lepidopterist Vladimir Nabokov.
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Plebejus idas, the Idas blue or northern blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Polyommatus damon, the Damon blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Polyommatus daphnis, the Meleager's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Agriades glandon, the Arctic blue or Glandon blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It in found in Eurasia and North America.
Icaricia shasta, the Shasta blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from the northwestern United States to southern Saskatchewan and Alberta.
Kretania pylaon, the zephyr blue, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Russia and the Middle East to Iran. The habitat consists of dry habitats.
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Kretania sephirus, previously known as Plebejus sephirus, is a species of butterfly that belongs to the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Asia Minor. The species is part of a species complex, with many members of the complex using variations of the name zephyr blue, including pylaon, trappi, and hesperica. The species, which previously belonged to the genus Plebejus, was moved to the genus Kretania following a 2013 molecular phylogenetics study of the subtribe Polyommatina. Many sephirus populations are threatened, and are legally protected in some countries, such as Hungary.