Polyommatus icarus

BUTTERFLY INFO

Polyommatus icarus is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae on the island of Crete, Greece.

Scientific name

Polyommatus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775)

Common name

Common Blue

Classification

Family: Lycaenidae > Subfamily: Polyommatinae > Tribus: Polyommatini > Genus: Polyommatus

Wingspan

Male to female: 20-35 mm

Appearance

Upperside, the male butterfly has a blue color with a black marginal border. The female varies from dark brown to almost blue with orange submarginal spots.

Underside, the male has greyish to light blue colors, contrary to the female that is brownish.

Behavior

In weak sunlight conditions male often basks on low herbage, with wings held half-open. In overcast but warm conditions, it sometimes basks with wings fully open. When the weather is warm and sunny it flies actively from flower to flower.

Habitat

Polyommatus icarus in Crete lives in several habitats from sea level to the mountains, in fallow land, glades, meadows, ruderal areas, and waysides.

Food plant

The larva feeds on Fabaceae (Lotus, Trifolium, Trigonella, Astragalus, Ononis) plants.

Flight Period

The butterfly flies in 2-3 generations per year. It can be observed almost all year long.

Remarks

The female butterfly can be easily confused with Aricia Agestis (Brown Argus), which also occurs in Crete. Here are some useful tips to spot the difference:

• on the underside forewing, the Common Blue almost always has an extra black spot (cell spot), which is absent from the Brown Argus.
• the apex of the forewing of Common Blue is less rounded than the Brown Argus
• the orange lunes of Brown Argus tend to be brighter orange, stronger defined, and larger than in a Common Blue.
• there is a more intense white streak in the center of the underside of the hindwing of Aricia agestis than in Polyommatus icarus.

Status*

Least Concern (LC)

(*European Red List of Butterflies, 2010).