(Fabricius, 1787)
Provence Hairstreak
Description:
The Provence Hairstreak can be found on abandoned agricultural land, especially on calcareous soils, in abandoned vineyards and bushy areas. Various leguminous plants are used as larval food plant, including Bladder Vetch (Anthyllis tetraphylla), Dorycnium hirsutum, Iberian Milk-vetch (Astragalus lusitanicus), Hairy Medick (Medicago polymorpha), Black Medick (M. lupulina) and birdsfoot-trefoils (Lotus spp.).
The female deposits her eggs singly on the unopened leaves. The caterpillars are attended by ants.
This species has one generation a year, and passes the winter as a chrysalis, possibly in the ants' nest.
Habitat:
Fallow land and waste places
Dry siliceous grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Sclerophyllous scrub
Similar species:
Lycaena phlaeas