Spanish Chalk-hill Blue
Common NameSpanish Chalk-hill Blue
Scientific NamePolyommatus albicans
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale grey, beige, black, orange
HabitatDry, grassy areas, scrubland, rocky slopes, often on calcareous soils.
Geographic RangeIberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal), parts of North Africa.
Host PlantsHippocrepis scabra, Hippocrepis glauca
Flight PeriodMay to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae feed on the host plant, often attended by ants, and typically overwinter before pupating near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the pale greyish-white underside with distinct black spots ringed in white, and a prominent row of orange spots on the hindwing. Males have a very pale, almost silvery-blue upperside.
Description
A small to medium-sized butterfly with a pale greyish-white to beige underside, featuring a pattern of black spots ringed in white and a row of orange spots along the hindwing margin.
