Amanda's Blue

Description:

A male (1st photo) and a female (2nd photo) Amanda's Blue. The Amanda's Blue (Polyommatus amandus) is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family. It is found in the Palearctic ecozone. With a wingspan of 29 to 35 mm (1.1 to 1.4 in), Amanda's Blue is noticeably larger than most blue butterflies, which is particularly apparent when they are flying. The upperside of the male's wings is a silvery blue or sky blue, often, but not always, with a broad dark border and a narrow black marginal line with an outermost white line. The upperside of the female's wings is in some populations dark blue edged with brown but in other populations is medium brown with a row of orange half-moon shaped lunules near the edges. The hind margin has red blotches. The underside of the male's wings are light grey with white-edged black blotches. The underside of the female's wings is similar but they are a rich creamy brown colour with red blotches, especially on the margins of the hind wings and a series of black spots with white rims, often touching, forming a row parallel to the margin of the wings. The basal areas of the underwings are turquoise. The wingspan is 28 to 36 mm (1.1 to 1.4 in).