Dusky Large Blue
Common NameDusky Large Blue
Scientific NamePhengaris nausithous
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, blue
HabitatWet meadows, damp grasslands, marshy areas
Geographic RangeCentral and Eastern Europe, parts of Asia
Host PlantsSanguisorba officinalis
Flight PeriodJuly to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusnear-threatened
Lifecycle NotesLarvae initially feed on the flowers of Great Burnet (*Sanguisorba officinalis*), then drop to the ground to be adopted by specific *Myrmica* ant species, living as social parasites within the ant nest.
Identification TipsLook for its dull brown underside with distinct black spots, lacking any orange markings. Males have a characteristic dark blue upperside. It is typically found in damp meadows where its host plant, Great Burnet, grows.
Description
A small to medium-sized butterfly with a dull brown underside featuring a series of prominent black spots, often ringed with white. Males typically have a dark violet-blue upperside, while females are mostly brown.
