Chapman's Blue
Common NameChapman's Blue
Scientific NamePolyommatus thersites
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorslight brown, orange, black, white
HabitatDry grasslands, rocky slopes, scrubland, meadows
Geographic RangeSouthern and Central Europe, Asia Minor, Caucasus, Central Asia
Host PlantsOnobrychis viciifolia, Onobrychis arenaria
Flight PeriodMay to August (bivoltine)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on the host plant. Larvae feed on sainfoins and are often tended by ants. Pupation occurs near the ground, and the species typically overwinters as a larva.
Identification TipsKey identification features include the absence of a basal spot on the forewing underside and the strong, continuous orange submarginal band on both wings. Males have a violet-blue upperside, while females are brown.
Description
A small butterfly with a light brown underside, adorned with a series of black-ringed white spots and a prominent submarginal band of orange spots on both fore and hindwings.
