English name:
Osiris Blue
Full scientific name:
Cupido osiris (Meigen, 1775)
Croatian name:
Grahorkin strjeličar
Flight Period and Life Cycle
1 brood per year.
Distribution in Croatia
More common in the south. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
The underside of the wings is greyish. There is a bluish tint in the basal zone. In the postdiscal zone of both wings, there is a series of black spot. On the forewing of most individuals, the spots from S1-S4 lie on an imaginary straight line. The upper side of both wings is dark in females. In males, the upper side of wings is blue in color with a thin and dark edge. This is distinctive and it can separate them from similar C. minimus. Females of C. minimus and C. osiris share similarities in their external morphology and it’s hard to distinguish them. If we find a female that stays and lays eggs on the host plant, it is possible to distinguish the two species more easily.
Caterpillar Host Plants
Onobrychis viciifolia.
Habitat
Dry and rocky slopes and meadows, light woodland. Prefer hills and mountains. Elevations: 100-1200m.
Literature
Pamperis, 2009: The Butterflies of Greece
Gallery
