English name:
Iolas Blue
Full scientific name:
Iolana iolas (Ochsenheimer, 1816)
Croatian name:
Pucavac
Flight Period and Life Cycle
1 brood per year. Overwinters as pupae.
Distribution in Croatia
More common on the far south. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
Iolana iolas is one of the largest butterflies of the Lycaenidae family. The upper side of wings is blue in color in both sexes. In females, at the margin zone, the dark border is much wider. The underside of wings is greyish. In the postdiscal zone, there is a series of dark spots. The basal zone is bluish. Furthermore, in the marginal zone there is a series of pale and a bit blurred spots more prominent on the hindwing.
Behavior
It feeds on the nectar of the host plant and often absorbs the juices on moist soil.
Caterpillar Host Plants
Bladder-senna (Colutea arborescens).
Habitat
Rocky terrains with bushes. Elevations: 0-800m.
Gallery
