Blues Butterflies (Polyommatinae)

Provence Chalk-hill Blue mating on a grass in a wasteland bordering the Drôme. The male on the left is aberrant, layout and shape of the points of the forewing are different than they should be in this species. These variations can be caused by genetic origins or environmental stress suffered during the development of the caterpillar or during its pupation.

Escher's Blue female gathering nectar of a Blue Aphyllanthes flower in a wasteland. Diois, France.

Escher's Blue female gathering nectar of a Blue Aphyllanthes flower in a wasteland. Diois, France.

Provence Chalk-hill Blue mâle resting on a grass in marl. Diois, France.

Common Blue male resting on a clover flower. Limousin, France.

Common Blue male resting on a clover flower. Limousin, France.

Common blue male resting on a buttercup exposes its wings in the sun. Limousin, France.

Common blue male resting on a buttercup exposes its wings in the sun. Limousin, France.

Mazarine Blue male resting on a blade of grass in a wet meadow.

Short-tailed Blue resting on a blade of grass in a meadow.

Furtive encounter between a common red soldier beetle and a Short-tailed Blue female posed in a calcareous grassland.

Short-tailed Blue female resting on a blade of grass in a calcareous meadow.

Adonis Blue female resting on a scabious.

Adonis Blue paire mating, female on left, male on right, upon a rock on a steep hillside.

Adonis Blue male posed in a calcareous grassland.

Adonis Blue male landed on an umbel Apiaceae.

Brown Argus resting on Apple-scented Mint in a wet meadow.

Chalkhill Blue female gathering nectar of alfafa flowers in a calcareous meadow.

Chalkhill Blue female gathering nectar of alfafa flowers in a calcareous meadow.

Short-tailed Blue resting on a nettle leaf.

Short-tailed Blue resting on a nettle leaf.

Short-tailed Blue resting on a nettle leaf.

Turquoise Blue male gathering nectar in a field of lavender.

Turquoise Blue male gathering nectar in a field of lavender.

Turquoise Blue male gathering nectar in a field of lavender.

Turquoise Blue male gathering nectar in a field of lavender.

Chalkhill Blue male resting on a dry round-headed leek.

This Adonis Blue male is not like the other members of its species. It lacks a series of dots on the forewing and hindwing.

This Adonis Blue male is not like the other members of its species. It lacks a series of dots on the forewing and hindwing.

Damon Blue butterflies mating in an alpine meadow.

Prelude to mating of Damon Blue butterflies. The female, left, raises the abdomen and rub her legs against their wings while the male contemplate the show, and closely follows.

Large Blue gathering nectar of an oregano flower in a chalk meadow.

A blue female of Common Blue resting in a wet meadow.

Adonis Blue resting on an umbelliferous.

Silver-studded Blue gathering nectar from Field Eryngo.

Provençal Short-tailed Blue gathering nectar of fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica) near a stream.

Silver-studded Blue gathering nectar from Field Eryngo.