Pallid Argus
Common NamePallid Argus
Scientific NameAricia artaxerxes
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown, grey, blue, black, white
HabitatDry grasslands, heathland, rocky areas
Geographic RangeEurope, Asia
Host PlantsHelianthemum nummularium, Geranium spp.
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are small, green, and often tended by ants. They pupate close to the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its dull brown wings, the presence of distinct black ocelli with white pupils on the underside of the hindwings, and its small size. The body often has a bluish sheen.
Description
A small, dull brown butterfly with a greyish-blue body. The underside of the hindwings features several prominent black eyespots with white pupils.
