(Linnaeus, 1767)
Lang's Short-tailed Blue
Description:
Lang's Short-tailed Blue is a small, inconspicuous butterfly that occurs in flower-rich places and on rough vegetation. It is often seen near scrub and on fields of Lucerne (Medicago sativa).
The eggs are laid on various leguminous plants, such as melilots (Melilotus spp.), Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), and also species of Rosaceae and Plumbaginaeceae.
The caterpillar feeds on the flowers and seeds of the food plant. The life cycle of the Lang's Short-tailed Blue takes four to eight weeks, depending on the temperature. Because it is not certain whether this species can go into diapause, in this case in the egg or caterpillar stage, it is also not clear or whether Lang's Short-tailed Blue is a resident or migrant in southern Europe. It is also possible that the populations are dependent on annual recolonization from Africa.
Habitat:
Dry siliceous grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Phrygana vegetation
Sclerophyllous scrub
Similar species:
Lampides boeticus