English name:
Mountain Argus
Full scientific name:
Aricia artaxerxes (Fabricius, 1793)
Croatian name:
Planinski mrki plavac
Flight Period and Life Cycle
1 brood per year. Caterpillar hibernates during winter time.
Distribution in Croatia
Mountains only. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
On the underside of the hindwing, in S6 and S7 zones, there are black spots. Their position is common for genus Aricia. In the submarginal zone of the underside of wings there is a series of orange spots. The distance between spots is thin but visible. The upper side of both wings is dark brown in color. Additionally, there are orange spots at least on the hindwing.
Behavior
Imago feeds with nectar of various flowers.
Caterpillar Host Plants
Geranium family (Geraniaceae) like G. sanguineum and Erodium cicutarium.
Habitat
Warm and rocky meadows with flowering vegetation along the edges of bushes and forest. Elevations: 700-1700m.
Gallery
