European Blues
European Blues
Well, with a trip to Europe in the near future still seeming about as likely as a trip to Mars, I have been wistfully looking back at a load of my European Butterfly photographs and trip reports from recent years.
I decided yesterday that, to help "beat the blues" caused by the now well-recognised "European Butterfly Withdrawal Syndrome", I would put together a selection of my favourite European Blues.
Blues to combat "the blues" - you get the idea...
My plan was somehow to whittle things down to a "Top Ten", but having done that, I soon began to realise that it was almost impossible to choose just ten species. Anyway, here are the ten that I came up with, in reverse order.
Feel free to join in with your own favourite Blues - it could be your personal top ten, top five, just a selection, or any special memories; whatever you like!
Number 10 Long-tailed Blue To me, the sight of Long-tailed Blues flying manically around their bushy foodplants is inextricably linked to the feel of hot Mediterranean sunshine on the skin, the smell of sun-baked vegetation, and a definite knowledge that you are no longer in the UK (unless you happen to be one of the fortunate individuals to have witnessed the influxes of this beauty into southern England in recent years!)
Number 9 Gavarnie Blue A beautiful and rare high altitude specialist. This one makes the list in no small part because of the dramatic landscape in which it flies, and the effort needed to track it down. These are all of the subspecies asturiensis, confined to the Cantabrian mountains of Northern Spain.
Number 8 Large Blue Just a perennial favourite; partly due to reading, as a young child, of its sad demise in the UK; partly its amazing life-cycle. These were all photographed in the Dordogne, but I also regularly see f.obscura in the Alps of South East France. Fantastic butterflies!
Number 7 Eastern Baton Blue I love the wing edge pattern on these, plus the discal spot and the colouration. The undersides are pretty gorgeous as well. These were photographed in Greece.
Number 6 Damon Blue This butterfly has a special place in my heart, being my first new high-altitude blue species during a trip to the Haute Savoie many years ago, and remains a big favourite. The males are just beautiful both in flight and at rest, and that underside stripe is a bit special. Great to see them en masse when they are at peak numbers on the best sites.
Top five to follow shortly...
I decided yesterday that, to help "beat the blues" caused by the now well-recognised "European Butterfly Withdrawal Syndrome", I would put together a selection of my favourite European Blues.
Blues to combat "the blues" - you get the idea...
My plan was somehow to whittle things down to a "Top Ten", but having done that, I soon began to realise that it was almost impossible to choose just ten species. Anyway, here are the ten that I came up with, in reverse order.
Feel free to join in with your own favourite Blues - it could be your personal top ten, top five, just a selection, or any special memories; whatever you like!
Number 10 Long-tailed Blue To me, the sight of Long-tailed Blues flying manically around their bushy foodplants is inextricably linked to the feel of hot Mediterranean sunshine on the skin, the smell of sun-baked vegetation, and a definite knowledge that you are no longer in the UK (unless you happen to be one of the fortunate individuals to have witnessed the influxes of this beauty into southern England in recent years!)
Number 9 Gavarnie Blue A beautiful and rare high altitude specialist. This one makes the list in no small part because of the dramatic landscape in which it flies, and the effort needed to track it down. These are all of the subspecies asturiensis, confined to the Cantabrian mountains of Northern Spain.
Number 8 Large Blue Just a perennial favourite; partly due to reading, as a young child, of its sad demise in the UK; partly its amazing life-cycle. These were all photographed in the Dordogne, but I also regularly see f.obscura in the Alps of South East France. Fantastic butterflies!
Number 7 Eastern Baton Blue I love the wing edge pattern on these, plus the discal spot and the colouration. The undersides are pretty gorgeous as well. These were photographed in Greece.
Number 6 Damon Blue This butterfly has a special place in my heart, being my first new high-altitude blue species during a trip to the Haute Savoie many years ago, and remains a big favourite. The males are just beautiful both in flight and at rest, and that underside stripe is a bit special. Great to see them en masse when they are at peak numbers on the best sites.
Top five to follow shortly...
Re: European Blues
PART TWO.
Number 5 Common Tiger Blue Surely one of the most exotic of the European blues. I have only seen these on two occasions, and only ever in small numbers, early in the year in Almeria, Spain. Fantastic markings!
Number 4 Chequered Blue This is the only Chequered Blue that I have ever seen. I am not usually in the right place at the right time to connect with this butterfly, but my one encounter with it in the Tinée Valley left a deep impression. What a stunning butterfly!
Third Place - Reverdin's Blue Of the Plebejus species that I have encountered, this one stands head and shoulders above the rest for me. There is just something about the underside, the virtually continuous sub-marginal band of orange, and that clean silver-grey underside ground colour that is so appealing. Added to this the tendency of the females to throw out beautiful blue forms, and the intense blue of the freshly emerged males, it is in my humble opinion a worthy third place for this gem!
Second Place - Canary Blue This one was very nearly my choice for first place. It is unlike anything else in Europe! That underside is just so different. A fascinating endemic, these were photographed on La Palma. This is a butterfly that I would happily travel to see time and again..
First Place - Meleager's Blue In the end it just had to be Meleager's for first place! The glorious bright sky blue of the males, the amazing contrast in colour on the females, the different female colour forms (f.steeveni), the subtle paleness of the underside, and of course those incredible scallops on the hindwing trailing edge! Photographed in the Maritime Alps.
I should add that it was very difficult NOT to include species such as Azure Chalkhill Blue, Glandon Blue, Dusky Large Blue etc. in this selection.
So, over to you folks. Lets see some of your favourite Blues!
Number 5 Common Tiger Blue Surely one of the most exotic of the European blues. I have only seen these on two occasions, and only ever in small numbers, early in the year in Almeria, Spain. Fantastic markings!
Number 4 Chequered Blue This is the only Chequered Blue that I have ever seen. I am not usually in the right place at the right time to connect with this butterfly, but my one encounter with it in the Tinée Valley left a deep impression. What a stunning butterfly!
Third Place - Reverdin's Blue Of the Plebejus species that I have encountered, this one stands head and shoulders above the rest for me. There is just something about the underside, the virtually continuous sub-marginal band of orange, and that clean silver-grey underside ground colour that is so appealing. Added to this the tendency of the females to throw out beautiful blue forms, and the intense blue of the freshly emerged males, it is in my humble opinion a worthy third place for this gem!
Second Place - Canary Blue This one was very nearly my choice for first place. It is unlike anything else in Europe! That underside is just so different. A fascinating endemic, these were photographed on La Palma. This is a butterfly that I would happily travel to see time and again..
First Place - Meleager's Blue In the end it just had to be Meleager's for first place! The glorious bright sky blue of the males, the amazing contrast in colour on the females, the different female colour forms (f.steeveni), the subtle paleness of the underside, and of course those incredible scallops on the hindwing trailing edge! Photographed in the Maritime Alps.
I should add that it was very difficult NOT to include species such as Azure Chalkhill Blue, Glandon Blue, Dusky Large Blue etc. in this selection.
So, over to you folks. Lets see some of your favourite Blues!
Re: European Blues
Hi Pete , I was thinking along similar lines, my top ten favourite butterflies , you piped me to the post, I shall not attempt to rate mine one to ten , they all have a special place for different reasons as I discovered new species on my journey of discovery, so here goes.
Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus)
Every time I see Adonis Blue I marvel at the marvellous intensity of its blue colour. No apologies for the Large Blue (Phengaris arion) from Collards Hill ,Somerset,my local patch. Another one from my local patch Draycott Sleights on the Mendips. more to follow. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com.
Adonis Blue (Polyommatus bellargus)
Every time I see Adonis Blue I marvel at the marvellous intensity of its blue colour. No apologies for the Large Blue (Phengaris arion) from Collards Hill ,Somerset,my local patch. Another one from my local patch Draycott Sleights on the Mendips. more to follow. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com.
Re: European Blues
Some wonderful photos here guys- thanks for sharing!
Re: European Blues
The Furry Blue is one of the more difficult species to find, I was lucky to find a colony whilst stopping for a lunch break at a layby parking off the beaten track near Apt, Vaucluse.
https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com
The Holly blue, on the wing at the moment, I find this species very tricky it's under wing has a reflective metallic sheen, yet to get a pleasing shot, picture shows a Female.
The Damon Blue, seen in the Queyras National Park whilst sat waiting for a Small Apollo to pitch, another lucky find.
Re: European Blues
Nice idea, Pete, though this is one which has left me scratching my head - who do I leave out?
Some beautiful images from both you and Jim in your respective sequences. Hard to pick a favourite although that Reverdin's Blue has to be a contender.![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Some beautiful images from both you and Jim in your respective sequences. Hard to pick a favourite although that Reverdin's Blue has to be a contender.
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
- False Apollo
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Re: European Blues
Having seen Medard's lovely photos of Furry Blue it reminded me of a chance encounter in Aragon, Spain with Forster's Furry Blue. We were on a family holiday in 2004 and staying at camp site in the middle of nowhere. I went for a short walk and found a clearing which the sun was flooding down into. I did not have the camera equipment I have now, so had to make the best of the camera I had. While I was taking some photos of butterflies nectaring I suddenly noticed a pale looking blue butterfly arrive down on a flower, which struck me as being very pale and fresh looking. It was really beautiful and stood out. I only had time for 3 photos before it went and I never saw it again. I only found out later it was a Forster's Furry Blue, Agrodiaetus ainsae. Even now it rates as one of my all time favourite finds. We did have a great family holiday as well!
Re: European Blues
Thanks David. You are right - it is hard to leave any of the blues out. I found it particularly difficult not to include Alpine Blue! Iam sure you will come up with a great selection - feel free to go over and beyond a top ten if you wish
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Lovely shots Jim - very jealous of your Furry Blue, one that is still on my hit list. I look forward to the rest of your choices.
And Mike, I am also jealous of Forster's Furry Blue! Beautiful.
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Re: European Blues
What a great idea for a topic, and a great excuse for posting some wonderful images for us to enjoy.
Thanks everyone!
The Furry Blue group are on my wish-list as well. But I think my favourite still has to be our very own Adonis Blue.
Thanks everyone!
The Furry Blue group are on my wish-list as well. But I think my favourite still has to be our very own Adonis Blue.
Re: European Blues
The last four were challenging, what to include ? The Gavarnie Blue, (Plebejus pyrenaicus) finding it proved not to be as much as a challenge as the drive up a very steep narrow mountain road in our camper van, no further explanation !!.
The Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas) Vaucluse.. And
Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) La Brenne Natural Regional Park -Indre. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/
The Ripart's Anomalous Blue (Polyommatus ripartii) is an uncommon butterfly, perhaps I was lucky finding them plentiful on a visit to Vaucluse.
The Dusky Large Blue (Phengaris nausithous) was very high on my must find list, I would even say top of the list ,third time lucky, then a long drive across France for the Scarce Large Blue (Phengaris teleius) ,again success ,Oh lucky Jim..
And for the bonus points two glamour choices.The Turquoise Blue (Polyommatus dorylas) Vaucluse.. And
Long-tailed Blue (Lampides boeticus) La Brenne Natural Regional Park -Indre. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com/
Re: European Blues
Fantastic Jim - that mating pair of Turquoise Blues is an absolute gem!
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Re: European Blues
The blues are my favourite group and like David I find the real question is not what to include but what to leave out. So instead of trying to pin down any particular favourites, I'm going to pick my ten from species that might otherwise be under-represented in others' lists, for one reason or another.
1. Iolas blue, Iolana iolas. This is the largest European Lycaenid and a truly magnificent insect. Generally rare, it flies in reasonable numbers in the Rhône Valley of Switzerland and if you know where to look it is easy to secure sightings in May and June:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2018/iolas18may2018c.jpg)
2. False baton blue, Scolitantides abencerragus. At the other end of the size scale, this tiny blue is found in scattered colonies in Spain and Portugal. I found it locally common near Antequera in April 2019 and was booked to go back for more this year ...
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2019/abencerragus3apr2019ra.jpg)
3. Dark grass blue, Zizeeria karsandra. I suspect others will post pictures of the African grass blue, Zizeeria knysna, so here is its eastern relative. This picture, of a female, was taken in Mumbai:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/karsandraindia25oct2012d.jpg)
4. Another eastern species, found very locally in Europe but more commonly in India, is the grass jewel, Chilades trochylus. This one was photographed near a rural school in Tirupur:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/trochylusindia30oct2012a.jpg)
5. The African babul blue, Azanus jesous, is found in Morocco (hence its figuring in European books) but also much more widely in Africa and Asia. This individual was also in Tirupur:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/jesousindia1nov2012a.jpg)
6. Many anomalous blues have very restricted distributions. None more so than the Piedmont anomalous blue, Polyommatus humedasae, found only in a few places in the Aosta Valley in Italy. I used to pop over every year when I lived in Switzerland. This is the last one I saw, in June 2018, before moving to the UK:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2018/humedasae20jul2018a.jpg)
7. There will probably be a few of these posted, but who can resist the Spanish chalkhill blue, Polyommatus albicans? This is the orthographically irregular ssp. arragonensis, photographed in Aragón in July 2017:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/albicans14jul2017rb.jpg)
8. There is nothing to compare with the deep, matt blue of the male Osiris blue, Cupido osiris. This is a particularly fresh individual, photographed in Switzerland in May 2014:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2014/osiris25may2014a.jpg)
9. Blues show exceptional variation and a great number of named aberrations. I don't know if this one has a name, but it is a very striking individual. It's not obvious, but it's a mazarine blue, found near the Simplon Pass in July 2011.
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2011/semiargusaberration112.jpg)
10. Finally, not a European blue at all, though it is related to the European silverlines of the genus Cigaritis. This is a common silverline, Spindasis vulcanus, within the grounds of that same rural school near Tirupur in India:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/vulcanusindia1nov2012a.jpg)
Guy
1. Iolas blue, Iolana iolas. This is the largest European Lycaenid and a truly magnificent insect. Generally rare, it flies in reasonable numbers in the Rhône Valley of Switzerland and if you know where to look it is easy to secure sightings in May and June:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2018/iolas18may2018c.jpg)
2. False baton blue, Scolitantides abencerragus. At the other end of the size scale, this tiny blue is found in scattered colonies in Spain and Portugal. I found it locally common near Antequera in April 2019 and was booked to go back for more this year ...
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2019/abencerragus3apr2019ra.jpg)
3. Dark grass blue, Zizeeria karsandra. I suspect others will post pictures of the African grass blue, Zizeeria knysna, so here is its eastern relative. This picture, of a female, was taken in Mumbai:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/karsandraindia25oct2012d.jpg)
4. Another eastern species, found very locally in Europe but more commonly in India, is the grass jewel, Chilades trochylus. This one was photographed near a rural school in Tirupur:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/trochylusindia30oct2012a.jpg)
5. The African babul blue, Azanus jesous, is found in Morocco (hence its figuring in European books) but also much more widely in Africa and Asia. This individual was also in Tirupur:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/jesousindia1nov2012a.jpg)
6. Many anomalous blues have very restricted distributions. None more so than the Piedmont anomalous blue, Polyommatus humedasae, found only in a few places in the Aosta Valley in Italy. I used to pop over every year when I lived in Switzerland. This is the last one I saw, in June 2018, before moving to the UK:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2018/humedasae20jul2018a.jpg)
7. There will probably be a few of these posted, but who can resist the Spanish chalkhill blue, Polyommatus albicans? This is the orthographically irregular ssp. arragonensis, photographed in Aragón in July 2017:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2017/albicans14jul2017rb.jpg)
8. There is nothing to compare with the deep, matt blue of the male Osiris blue, Cupido osiris. This is a particularly fresh individual, photographed in Switzerland in May 2014:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2014/osiris25may2014a.jpg)
9. Blues show exceptional variation and a great number of named aberrations. I don't know if this one has a name, but it is a very striking individual. It's not obvious, but it's a mazarine blue, found near the Simplon Pass in July 2011.
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/images2011/semiargusaberration112.jpg)
10. Finally, not a European blue at all, though it is related to the European silverlines of the genus Cigaritis. This is a common silverline, Spindasis vulcanus, within the grounds of that same rural school near Tirupur in India:
![Image](https://www.guypadfield.com/india2012/vulcanusindia1nov2012a.jpg)
Guy
Guy's Butterflies: https://www.guypadfield.com
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The Butterflies of Villars-Gryon : https://www.guypadfield.com/villarsgryonbook.html
Re: European Blues
Hi Guy, The Iolas blue was to have been my number one target species this year, I had two sites in the Rhone valley lined up and another in the Vaucluse, now its unlikely I shall get another chance, but who knows I may be fit for another chance next year, fingers crossed.
Hi Pete and the Meleager's Blue is another that has eluded me , I did have hopes of finding it last year but life has its little disappointment's. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com
Hi Pete and the Meleager's Blue is another that has eluded me , I did have hopes of finding it last year but life has its little disappointment's. https://jamesgibbs6929.zenfolio.com
- Pete Eeles
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Re: European Blues
I'm with Pete. The blue form of the female Meleager's Blue is just stunning. The Large Blue for me too, but for very different reasons - not just lifecycle, but also hope of what we can do if we put our minds to it.
Cheers,
- Pete
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
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Re: European Blues
This thread is cheering me up and giving me nightmares in equal measure.
I've tried to make a top ten list but I'm horrified by those species I've had to leave out.
I could spend weeks reassessing things but will go ahead with my selection very shortly, and it's very interesting to see how tastes differ, with my favourites being very much different to others'.
I guess it's akin to a man's taste in women!![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
I've tried to make a top ten list but I'm horrified by those species I've had to leave out.
I could spend weeks reassessing things but will go ahead with my selection very shortly, and it's very interesting to see how tastes differ, with my favourites being very much different to others'.
I guess it's akin to a man's taste in women!
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Re: European Blues
Here goes....
I'll start with three which aren't in my top three, if that makes any sense...
#10 Eros Blue
This brightly coloured, silvery blue butterfly is a welcome sight in the French Alps in July. I like the broad margins alongside the powder blue ground colour:
#9 Mother of Pearl Blue
A heavyweight rarity in France (where I haven't seen it), but far commoner in Spain, standing out like a sore thumb from the myriad of darker blue species in this group. The female's underside is particularly striking:
#8 Osiris Blue
This is always a species I'm on alert for. Best chance to see it for me is in the Pyrenees in late May, but we occasionally see it in the French Alps in the summer. Has a mazarine/Small Blue underside, but with an unmistakeable bright blue upperside:
I'll start with three which aren't in my top three, if that makes any sense...
#10 Eros Blue
This brightly coloured, silvery blue butterfly is a welcome sight in the French Alps in July. I like the broad margins alongside the powder blue ground colour:
#9 Mother of Pearl Blue
A heavyweight rarity in France (where I haven't seen it), but far commoner in Spain, standing out like a sore thumb from the myriad of darker blue species in this group. The female's underside is particularly striking:
#8 Osiris Blue
This is always a species I'm on alert for. Best chance to see it for me is in the Pyrenees in late May, but we occasionally see it in the French Alps in the summer. Has a mazarine/Small Blue underside, but with an unmistakeable bright blue upperside:
Re: European Blues
#7 - Azure Chalkhill Blue
I'd never seen this species before my first visit to the Montes Universales in Spain in 2018, but it is a very attractive lycaenid and can be extremely common in the right habitat.
Much as I love coridon, it misses out on my top ten, along with albicans, which is more imposing size-wise and very pale indeed. The gorgeous darker shade of blue of caelestissimus gets it on my list:
I'd never seen this species before my first visit to the Montes Universales in Spain in 2018, but it is a very attractive lycaenid and can be extremely common in the right habitat.
Much as I love coridon, it misses out on my top ten, along with albicans, which is more imposing size-wise and very pale indeed. The gorgeous darker shade of blue of caelestissimus gets it on my list:
Re: European Blues
#6 Silvery Argus
There's something strikingly 'different' about this species. Whilst the undersides aren't much to behold, the males have a wonderful powdery blue suffusion on the uppersides framed by an extensive dark border.
In some years in the French Alps there are few on the wing, but in others it can be quite common, and it is delightfully unmistakeable when encountered:
There's something strikingly 'different' about this species. Whilst the undersides aren't much to behold, the males have a wonderful powdery blue suffusion on the uppersides framed by an extensive dark border.
In some years in the French Alps there are few on the wing, but in others it can be quite common, and it is delightfully unmistakeable when encountered:
Re: European Blues
Guy - that's a fabulous and pretty esoteric selection - thanks for sharing those!Padfield wrote: ↑Tue Apr 28, 2020 2:46 pm The blues are my favourite group and like David I find the real question is not what to include but what to leave out. So instead of trying to pin down any particular favourites, I'm going to pick my ten from species that might otherwise be under-represented in others' lists, for one reason or another.
And David, you have thankfully picked five species that caused me real heart-ache to leave out of my choices! I actually think that if I revisited this, I would probably post ten different blues on any given day, but my first place would remain the same...