Adonis blue

Adonis blue
Male, Aveyron, France
Female, Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Lycaenidae
Genus: Lysandra
Species:
L. bellargus
Binomial name
Lysandra bellargus
(Rottemburg, 1775)
Synonyms
  • Papilio bellargus, Rottemburg, 1775
  • Polyommatus bellargus, (Rottemburg, 1775)
  • Lycaena bellargus

The Adonis blue (Lysandra bellargus, also known as Polyommatus bellargus) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It inhabits the Palearctic realm (Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Southern Russia, Iraq, Iran, Caucasus, Transcaucasus, and Turkey).

It is found in chalk downland, in warm, sheltered spots, flying low over vegetation, seeking females that are rich chocolate brown in color. The male has brilliantly colored blue wings that give it its name.