Large blue

"Large blue" can also refer to other species of Phengaris or the genus Lepidochrysops.

Large blue
Upperside
Underside

Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1] (Europe)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Phengaris
Species:
P. arion
Binomial name
Phengaris arion
Synonyms
  • Papilio arion Linnaeus, 1758
  • Glaucopsyche arion (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Maculinea arion (Linnaeus, 1758)
  • Nomiades arion

The large blue (Phengaris arion) is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. The species was first defined in 1758 and first recorded in Britain in 1795.[2] In 1979 the species became mostly extinct in Britain but has been successfully reintroduced with new conservation methods.[3] The species is classified as "near threatened" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.[1] Today P. arion can be found in Europe, the Caucasus, Armenia, western Siberia, Altai, north-western Kazakhstan and Sichuan.[1]

The large blue can be distinguished by its unique speckled black dots on its wings with a blue background.

The large blue butterfly is well known in behavioural ecology as it is a brood parasite of a single species of red ant, Myrmica sabuleti.[2]

  1. ^ a b c d Gimenez Dixon, M. (1996). "Phengaris arion". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T12659A3371159. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T12659A3371159.en.
  2. ^ a b Eeles, Peter. "Large Blue". Retrieved 15 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Large Blue (Phengaris (Maculinea) arion)". Retrieved 15 November 2013.