Biology:Plebejus pylaon
Zephyr blue | |
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Plebejus pylaon nichollae copulating (female right, male left). | |
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Species: | P. pylaon
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Binomial name | |
Plebejus pylaon (Fischer von Waldheim, 1832)[1]
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Plebejus pylaon, the zephyr blue, is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Spain , across southern Europe, Hungary, the Balkans, southern Russia and the Middle East to Iran.[2] The habitat consists of dry habitats, Sudan savanna and the Sahel.
The wingspan is 28–34 mm. Adults are on wing from May to July.[3]
The larvae feed on Astragalus species, including Astragalus exscapus, Astragalus dasyanthus, Astragalus parnassi cyllenus, Astragalus angustifolius and Astragalus creticus rumelicus. They are attended by ants of the Bothriomyrmex, Tapinoma, Lasius, Camponotus, Tetramorium and Formica genera.[4]
Description from Seitz
L. pylaon Fisch.-Waldh. (= zephyrus H.-Sch., cyane Ev.) (78 h). The male of this small Blue recalls by the peculiar violet sheen of the upperside the form planorum of argyrognomon. Beneath snowy white, the hindwing with a strong sky-blue sheen and the distal band composed of vivid golden red, strongly glossy spots. — From the Ural, South Russia and the Kirghiz steppes, in May, not rare.[5]
Subspecies
- Plebejus pylaon pylaon
- Plebejus pylaon cleopatra Hemming, 1934
- Plebejus pylaon delattini Junge, 1971
- Plebejus pylaon katunensis Balint & Lukhtanov, 1990
- Plebejus pylaon nichollae Elwes, 1901
- Plebejus pylaon philbyi Graves 1925
- Plebejus pylaon solimana (Forster, 1938)
- Plebejus pylaon tadjikus Tschikolovetz
- Plebejus pylaon hespericus Rambur 1839
- Plebejus pylaon trappi Verity, 1927
etc... ...
References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Plebejus pylaon. |
- ↑ Plebejus, funet.fi
- ↑ Afrotropical Butterflies: Lycaenidae - Tribe Polyommatini (part 1)
- ↑ Captain's European Butterfly Guide
- ↑ Moths and Butterflies of Europe
- ↑ Seitz, A. ed. Band 1: Abt. 1, Die Großschmetterlinge des palaearktischen Faunengebietes, Die palaearktischen Tagfalter, 1909, 379 Seiten, mit 89 kolorierten Tafeln (3470 Figuren)
Wikidata ☰ Q1942786 entry