(Freyer, 1845)
Grass Jewel
Description:
The Grass Jewel is Europe's smallest butterfly. It flies rapidly keeping very close to the ground. This rapid flight and its small size make that it is rarely noticed.
It occurs in warm, dry places such as open, stony ground with grassy vegetation and some bushes, or on waste places and abandoned agricultural land. The areas it occupies are sometimes very small.
The caterpillar feeds on different Heliotropum species and on Adrachne telephioides. They are attended by ants.
The Grass Jewel has two or three generations a year and passes the winter in the chrysalis stage.
Habitat:
Phrygana vegetation
Sclerophyllous scrub
Similar species:
Pseudophilotes vicrama
Pseudophilotes bavius