BugsAlive
Polyommatus bellargus - the Adonis Blue (female)
La Roque-Sur-Ceze, Gard, France
Family : Lycaenidae
Subfamily : Polyommatinae
Species : Polyommatus bellargus
The Adonis Blue is widespread across the warmer parts of Europe, through southern Russia, to Turkey and the Middle East. Found on sunny hillsides in chalk and limestone areas where the larval food plant Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa ) is abundant. It is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 35-40mm and has two broods per year flying between May and September.
There is strong sexual dimorphism in this species, particularly on the upper wing surfaces. The males are completely blue with white wing margins while the females are predominantly brown with orange and black patterning and a touch of blue near the wing bases. The underside of both sexes is similar. Although it could be confused with the Common Blue it is easily distinguished by the black marks that extend through the white wing margins.
All my insect pics are single, handheld shots of live insects.
Polyommatus bellargus - the Adonis Blue (female)
La Roque-Sur-Ceze, Gard, France
Family : Lycaenidae
Subfamily : Polyommatinae
Species : Polyommatus bellargus
The Adonis Blue is widespread across the warmer parts of Europe, through southern Russia, to Turkey and the Middle East. Found on sunny hillsides in chalk and limestone areas where the larval food plant Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa ) is abundant. It is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 35-40mm and has two broods per year flying between May and September.
There is strong sexual dimorphism in this species, particularly on the upper wing surfaces. The males are completely blue with white wing margins while the females are predominantly brown with orange and black patterning and a touch of blue near the wing bases. The underside of both sexes is similar. Although it could be confused with the Common Blue it is easily distinguished by the black marks that extend through the white wing margins.
All my insect pics are single, handheld shots of live insects.