A rather untypical blue, unlike any other found in France - a rather dull upperside, lacking the usual resplendence of male blues, but having a very bright and distinctive underside. The female is similar but usually black-brown with only a sprinkling of blue scales, although some females can be quite blue and some males less blue so that there is an area of cross-over.

The male underside ground colour generally seems to a pure-ish white whereas the female seems to have a slight yellowish tinge. I am not sure how consistent this is, though.

It cannot be mistaken for any other species in France, where it occurs locally in the south-eastern quarter of the country. I had not seen it until 2005, but it was reasonably common in this semi-Alpine location at 1000m altitude. In 2011 I was shown another site, this time in Var and at a much lower altitude, where it was present in good numbers.

It is a quite localised butterfly of southern Europe, univoltine and with a quite early flight season. However, I have seen it in early July in the same location as others on this page and, in view of its freshness, it appears to be a second generation.

observations

a male with rather limited blue scales, in typical territorial pose.

this male has a quite cleanly marked underside, for a species that often appears smudgy even when in focus. The underside cannot be confused with any other species in France.