Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae

07095 Provençal Short-tailed Blue Cupido alcetas, (Hoffmannsegg, 1804)

BF -- (ABH61.000)

near Kyustendil, West Bulgaria. 7th July 2013.
near Kyustendil, West Bulgaria. 7th July 2013.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
near Kyustendil, West Bulgaria. 7th July 2013.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
 2010-2016
 2017
 2018
 2019
Western Stara Planina, 5th July 2014, male.
Western Stara Planina, 5th July 2014, male.
 Photo © John Hollis
Stoyanova, NW Bulgaria, 7th July 2014, male.
Stoyanova, NW Bulgaria, 7th July 2014, male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Stoyanova, NW Bulgaria, 7th July 2014, male.
Stoyanova, NW Bulgaria, 7th July 2014, male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Bachkovo, Western Rhodopi Mtns., 3rd July 2006, female
Bachkovo, Western Rhodopi Mtns., 3rd July 2006, female
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Mandraki, Lake Kerkini, N. Greece. 11th May 2014. Female.
Mandraki, Lake Kerkini, N. Greece. 11th May 2014. Female.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies


General Information

Widespread but local.

 

Care needs to be taken in identification. This species can most easily be confused with its congener the Eastern Short-tailed Blue (Cupido decoloratus). The males of the two species can usually be distinguished by the presence (which though present may be faint) (in the Eastern Short-tailed Blue), or absense (in the Provençal Short-tailed Blue), of a black crescent-shaped discal spot in the centre of the upperside of the forewing. The upper-forewing black margin is very narrow in the Provençal Short-tailed Blue, broader in Eastern Short-tailed Blue. In addition the blue colour of the male upper-wings is more dull and dusky in Eastern Short-tailed Blue, brighter blue in the Provençal Short-tailed Blue. Females of the two species are difficult to distinguish. I cannot find a consistent difference in the undersides. 

 

Both species may also be confused with the Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades). On the underside hindwing both species often have a little patch of yellow-orange between the single distinct black marginal spot by the short tail and the remnant black chevron internally. However in the Short-tailed Blue there are always at least two distinct orange patches internally of two distinct black marginal black spots. In addition the orange fills the space between the spots and the chevrons of the Short-tailed Blue, but not in either of the other two species.

 

Both Provencal and Eastern Short-tailed Blues can also easily be mistaken for Small Blue (Cupido minimus) or even the usually slightly larger Osiris Blue (Cupido osiris). However the short-tailed blues always have some indication of a short tail even if it is little more than a kink for a tail, but this can easily be missed if there is no small yellow-orange mark on the underside hindwing near the tail.


Foodplant(s): Goats Rue (Galega officinalis), Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia), Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)
National status:

Habitat

Usually in damp areas near ditches, streams, rivers and lakes. Amongst tall herbaceous vegetation, often in flowery open areas amongst trees.

Regional Information

Recorded in 23 (1.2%) of the 1900 10km squares of Bulgaria.

Last recorded in June 2019

Recorded date range (Adult): 11 May to 11 August

Similar Species
Zemen Gorge, Kyustendil Province, 3rd July 2017.
Zemen Gorge, Kyustendil Province, 3rd July 2017.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Small Blue Cupido minimus
Zabardo, Western Rhodopi Mountains, 22nd June 2015. Male, 1 of 2..
Zabardo, Western Rhodopi Mountains, 22nd June 2015. Male, 1 of 2..
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Osiris Blue Cupido osiris
nr Samokov, Bulgaria. 27th July 2017. Male.
nr Samokov, Bulgaria. 27th July 2017. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Short-tailed Blue Cupido argiades
Zemen Gorge, Kyustendil Province, 3rd July 2017. Male.
Zemen Gorge, Kyustendil Province, 3rd July 2017. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Eastern Short-tailed Blue Cupido decoloratus