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Project Noah Nature School
Plebejus idas
The Idas Blue is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the northern regions of the Palearctic ecozone and the Nearctic ecozone. It is on the wing from June to August depending on the location. Wingspan: 17 to 28 mm.[1]
Alpine meadow, alt. 1600 m ASL. The flower is Onobrychis montana
Wingspan: 17 to 28 mm. The larvae feed on Calluna and Fabaceae species.
Thanks Adarsha and Alice!
Jerome, I've had a careful look at Plebeius sp. on lepido.ch. and pieris.ch, and have become convinced it is Plebeius idas. There is actually a very useful shot on lepido.ch. of Plebeius idas and Polyommatus eros together, at les Plans-sur-Bex right below where this one was found. Beautiful site you have. Hoping to see you again here.
Jerome, je me rappelle avoir lu un article sur vous dans le magazine Migros un peu plus tot cette annee. Je pensais vous contacter mais cela m'est sorti de la tete. Je suis contente vous ayez rejoint ce site. Votre expertise sera utile et appreciee, et sous sommes encore peu d'utilisateurs en Suisse. Pardon pour le manque d'accents, je tape sur un clavier americain et je ne retrouve plus mes settings pour les accents.
Thanks for your comment UrifahRidlo!
JérômePellet, thanks for the suggestion! Will check it right now. Bienvenue sur Project Noah! Nous sommes deux Suisses actifs en tant que rangers sur le site: moi-meme et bayucca, un passione des papillons:
http://www.projectnoah.org/users/bayucca....
such a beautiful creature, it looks different from back look and front look
@Ashish: Lycaena thersamon is not found in the area where this butterfly was spotted. Also see the comment below: this butterfly is not a copper.
@Ashish if you look at the second shot you'll see this is a blue, not a copper.
@Ashish Everes sp. (Cupido) have short tails. This butterfly has no tails.
Thank you so much gatorfellows. I was indeed looking for a criteria that would not have involved capture and microscopic examination of genitalia:) I had failed to find a criteria for discal spots. I am glad to have P. eros !
Remember you asked the difference. I found a research paper that was comparing these to another. Luckily in the foot notes there was a simple note about wing veination, along wiht look at the genitalia, which is difficult in the field or photo. Here you go:
Polyommatus eros, "Undersurface of forewings with discal spots in R5; veins M1 and M2 arranged in a straight line;..."
Polyommatus icarus, "Undersurface of forewings with discal spots in R5; veins M1 and M2 arranged on a curve;..."
If you look at the view in the reference you gave you can find two to compare. I think you have the straight line Polyommatus eros.
The Taxonomic Study: http://www.scribd.com/doc/95040142/TAXON...
Spotted on Jul 7, 2012
Submitted on Jul 11, 2012
+1
