| Photo Information |
Copyright: Ingrid Ugussi (Skye)
![Silver Workshop Editor/Silver Note Writer [C: 1 W: 0 N: 15]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-s-s.gif) (72) |
| Genre: Animals |
| Medium: Color |
| Date Taken: 2010-05-07 |
| Categories: Insects |
| Exposure: f/6.7, 1/180 seconds |
| More Photo Info: [view] |
| Photo Version: Original Version |
| Date Submitted: 2015-12-17 0:53 |
| Viewed: 1200 |
| Points: 4 |
|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
More pictures on my blog: http://gardensofnature.org/
Scientific name: Glaucopsyche alexis
Family: Lycaenidae
Common names:
English: Green-underside Blue
German: Alexis-Bläuling
Croatian: Kozlincev plavac
Widespread and common in many European regions. However, it is absent in the Atlantic islands, Prtugal, West Spain, Britain, North Belgium, North Germany, Denmark, Holland, Balearic Islands, Sardinia and Crete.
Description
The males´ upper side is blue with dark borders which can be more or less wide, whereas females are usually brown, with a basal blue suffusion which can be extensive in some populations. Both sexes present on the hind underside wing the metallic greenish-blue flush on light-grey background, which in males is often extended to the edges but it can be reduced in some populations.
Food plants: Several members of the Fabaceae genus (Genista tinctoria, Melilotus officinalis, M. alba, Medicago sativa, M. falcate, Astragalus spp., Vicia spp., Onobrychis spp., Cytisus spp. Etc).
Habitat: near natural grasslands, damp meadows, woodland clearings, garrigue;
Life cycle
Eggs are laid on a flower which will be eaten by the larvae once emerged. Larvae are attended by several ant species. May overwinter as a pupa, and flies from April to July depending on the location.
Curiosities
• At the early stage, the colour of the larvae is variable and depends on the colour of the flower they feed on. It can be greenish, dusky-pink or even bright yellow if they consumed the yellow flowers of Spartium junceum.
• Larvae is whitish prior the pupation and at this stage it is attended by various ant species (Lasius, Formica, Myrmica, Camponotus etc.)
Bibliography:
T. Tolman and R. Lewington. Collins Butterfly Guide. Collins. 2008
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexis-Bl%C3%A4uling |
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121]](https://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(49139)