(Eschscholtz, 1821)
Description:
This butterfly species can be found in flower-rich, waste places, in scrub or at woodland edges.
The most important food plants are stork's-bills (Erodium spp.) and crane's-bills (Geranium spp.), of which the caterpillars eat the leaves. Knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), rockroses (Helianthemum spp.), and Leguminous plants, such as clovers (Trifolium spp.) and brooms (Cytisus spp.) have also been mentioned.
This species has two to three generations a year and is often found together with ants.
Habitat:
Alpine grasslands
Evergreen woodland
Tree lines and hedges
Fallow land and waste places
Heath and shrub
Sclerophyllous scrub
Similar species:
Aricia agestis
Aricia artaxerxes
Aricia morronensis