Southern Brown Argus, Morena

Description:

Small butterfly brown with a row of orange spots on outer wing edges. Very similar to Northern Brown Argus which usually has no orange spots on forewing. Female Common Blues are similar but have blue dusting near body. The underside has the typical "blue" pattern of a greyish/brownish ground colour with black spots outlined in white and a row of orange spots along the border. The pattern of the black spots is the best way to distinguish this species from female Common, Chalk Hill and Adonis Blues as they lack the black spot found near the base of the forewing which is present on these three species. The larvae are associated to ants and feed on alimenta de Leguminosae, mainly on genus Erodium, Helianthemum and Geranium

Habitat:

Spotted at mediterranean forest on a Common chicory flower (Cichorium intybus)

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/640 sec.; f/13; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Exposure Bias: 0 EV. Focal Length: 300.0 mm