Baton Blue (Pseudophilotes baton )
Species

Male underside. Taken in the Alpilles, France, on April 30th 2013.
(1/200th sec at f11. © David Hastings)

Female. Taken in the Alpilles, France, on April 30th 2013.
(1/200th sec at f14. © David Hastings)

Description

Family: Polyommatinae

Wing span: 20 - 22mm

A small blue, only marginally larger than the Small Blue. Closely resembles the Eastern Baton Blue, Panoptes Blue and False Baton Blue.

It is found in northern Portugal and Spain, most of France, Corsica, Switzerland and Italy.

Its habitat is dry grassy and flowery places, sheltered slopes, rock gullies.

The Baton Blue is generally bi-voltine, April/June and August. The pupa is the over-wintering stateg.

The laval food plants are Thymus serpyllum and other thymes, Lavendula staechus and other lavenders, and other species.

Larvae appear to require direct sunlight and high temperatures for healthy development. They are attended by Lasius alienus and Myrmica scabrinodis ants.

Sightings

30-Apr-2013 : La Caumbe, France (5)
26-Apr-2013 : Gorges de la Nesque, France (6)