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Thistle, Distel, Tistel - _TNY_3639

This is either an idas blue (Plebejus idas) or an argus blue (Plebejus argus), it's impossible to tell which and was shot at my favourite watering hole at Åva-Stensjödal in the Tyresta National Park, just south of Stockholm, Sweden.

 

This one is, as you can see, sitting on a thistle, a flower which is mighty popular with a plethora of insects.

 

This made me think of how similar some languages are with lots of words. "Thistle" is called "Distel" in German and the Swedish word fits right in between with "tistel". All of these have their origin in the Proto-Indo-European (s)teyg - meaning "to prick" which is very logical with their prickly nature.

 

The Swedish word for "sting" is "stick" which makes me think they have the same origin.

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Uploaded on December 6, 2022
Taken on July 16, 2021