| Polyommatus daphnis | |
|---|---|
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| Male, upperface | |
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| Male, underface | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Genus: | Polyommatus |
| Species: | P. daphnis |
| Binomial name | |
| Polyommatus daphnis | |
| Synonyms | |
Polyommatus daphnis, the Meleager's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Subspecies include: [3]
This species can be found in Eastern and Southern Europe and Western Asia, ranging from Southern Poland to the Balkans, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, Southern Urals, Turkey, Caucasus and Transcaucasia. [1] [3]
These butterflies inhabit grassy and bushy areas, clearings in scrubland and open flowery meadows in hills, at an elevation of 200–1,700 metres (660–5,580 ft) above sea level. [4] [5]
Polyommatus daphnis has a wingspan of 36–38 millimetres (1.4–1.5 in). [4] These small butterflies present a sexual dimorphism. The upperside of the wings is bright blue in males, while in the females it is usually blue bordered with dark brown. The underside of the wings tends to be pale ocher in the females and grey-bluish in the males, with black spots surrounded by white. The hindwings are distinctly scalloped, especially in the females. [4] [5]
L. meleager Esp. (= daphnis Bgstr., female = endymion Schiff.) (81 a). male very large and very light sky-blue, strongly glossy, with a very narrow black margin. Underside pale grey-brown, with the base dusted with blue, the ocelli but little prominent and those near the margin of the hindwing very weak. Female at once recognized by the dentate anal portion of the outer margin. From Central and South Germany, Switzerland and South France throughout South-East Europe and Asia Minor to Syria and Kurdistan. – ab. limbopunctata Schulz are males with black marginal spots on the upperside. ab. steeveni Trk. (81 a) are strongly darkened females, which have a very wide distribution among ordinary specimens, but are more frequently found in the East, in Greece, Asia Minor, etc. – versicolor Ruhl-Heyne is a form from Mesopotamia with the upperside very light blue and the marginal spots of the underside entirely obsolete. – ignorata Stgr. [= P. d. versicolor (Rühl, 1895)](81 a), from Akbes in the south-western Taurus, is very peculiar as regards colour; the upperside of the female is traversed by many shadowy streaks situated on the veins; the hindwing of the male is likewise dentate in the anal portion, while in the female the teeth are so strong that they form 2–3 short tails. – Larva green with yellow swellings; spiracles black. Until June on Thymus, Orobus, Astragalus, and Coronilla. The butterflies in July and August; they are partial to limestone soil and occur singly in hot valleys, more in the hills and plains than in the mountains; on meadow-flowers, singly. [6]
It is a univoltine species. The butterflies fly from June to August. [4] [5] The larvae feed on horseshoe vetch, sainfoin and Securigera varia . Larvae are attended by ants ( Lasius alienus , Formica pratensis , Tapinoma erraticum ). [3] [7]
Named in the Classical tradition. In Greek mythology, Meleager was a hero venerated in his temenos at Calydon in Aetolia. Daphne a minor figure, is a naiad. Alternatively Daphnis in Greek mythology is a shepherd poet.
The meadow brown is a butterfly found in the Palearctic realm. Its range includes Europe south of 62°N, Russia eastwards to the Urals, Asia Minor, Iraq, Iran, North Africa and the Canary Islands. The larvae feed on grasses.
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 brown. Both have chequered fringes around their wings.
The Adonis blue is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It inhabits the Palearctic realm.
The scarce copper is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Polyommatus eros, the Eros blue or common meadow blue, is a species of blue butterfly found in the Palearctic.
Lasiommata maera, the large wall brown, is a butterfly in the family Nymphalidae.
Glaucopsyche alexis, the green-underside blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Palearctic.
Leptotes pirithous, commonly known as Lang's short-tailed blue or common zebra blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Agriades optilete, the cranberry blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in north eastern Europe, the Alps, North Asia, Japan, Korea and north western North America.
Polyommatus amandus, the Amanda's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Palearctic realm.
Polyommatus damon, the Damon blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae.
Polyommatus escheri, Escher's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Southern Europe and Morocco.
Erebia pandrose, the dewy ringlet, is a member of the subfamily Satyrinae of the family Nymphalidae. It is found from the Arctic areas of northern Europe, the Pyrenees, Alps, the Apennine Mountains, the Carpathian Mountains, Kola Peninsula and Kanin Peninsula, part of the Ural and the Altai and Sayan Mountains up to Mongolia.
Polyommatus dolus, the furry blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Spain, in France and Italy.
Polyommatus (Plebicula) dorylas, the turquoise blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in southern Europe, Asia Minor, the Ural Mountains, Caucasus and Transcaucasia. Its wingspan is 15–17 mm. The butterfly's common name comes from the dazzling bright blue colour of male's wings. The larvae feed on Anthyllis vulneraria. The butterfly flies from May to September in two generations. Habitats include flowery meadows in rocky areas at 500–2000 m.
Polyommatus admetus, the anomalous blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It was described by Eugenius Johann Christoph Esper in 1783. It is found in south-eastern Europe and Turkey.
Coenonympha leander, the Russian heath, is a butterfly belonging to the family Nymphalidae. It is found in northern Greece, Hungary, Bulgaria, southern Russia, Asia Minor, Armenia and Iran. The habitat consists of warm grassy areas.
Erebia dabanensis is a small butterfly found in the East Palearctic that belongs to the browns family.
Neolysandra coelestina is a butterfly found in the Palearctic that belongs to the blues family.
Polyommatus damone is a Palearctic butterfly in the Lycaenidae family.
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