(Linnaeus, 1758)
Large Blue
Description:
The Large Blue occurs locally on dry, open grasslands on limestone. It is one of the larger, more conspicuous blues.
The females lay their eggs on Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) and different species of thyme (Thymus spp.). The caterpillars feed on the buds and flowers of the food plant until they reach the last larval instar. They then leave their food plant, and allow themselves to be taken by workers of Myrmica sabuleti, and sometimes of M. scabrinodis, to the ants' nest. The caterpillars feed on the ant grubs, hibernating and pupating there as well.
Habitat:
Dry siliceous grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Mesophile grasslands
Similar species:
Maculinea teleius
Maculinea nausithous
Maculinea alcon