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Species account
Isblåfugl
(Polyommatus amandus)
Schneider (1792)
Blåfugle (Lycaenidae)
AMBL
24871
Amanda's Blue (gb)
Niña Amanda (es)
Silverblåvinge (se)
Synonyms: [Agrodiaetus amanda]
Measurements:
WS: 30-36mm
Generations:
1
Flight period:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identification:
Larger than icarus (Almindelig Blåfugl). Sexes differ.
The male shows an icy-blue upperside with diffuse black border along the margin and blackish ribbons distally on the forewing.
The female is brownish above with a varying degree of blue radiating from the body outward. Along the hindwing margin it shows vague orange spots.
The underside, for a large part, looks like icarus, but the pattern is cleaner, paler with less dark scales. And it lacks the white wedge on the hindwing. The male often looks almost clean blue-gray only with few well-defined black spots ringed with white. The female is darker than the male.
The male shows an icy-blue upperside with diffuse black border along the margin and blackish ribbons distally on the forewing.
The female is brownish above with a varying degree of blue radiating from the body outward. Along the hindwing margin it shows vague orange spots.
The underside, for a large part, looks like icarus, but the pattern is cleaner, paler with less dark scales. And it lacks the white wedge on the hindwing. The male often looks almost clean blue-gray only with few well-defined black spots ringed with white. The female is darker than the male.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
N Africa, Spain, Europe, Turkey and W Asia.
Habitat:
Well-grown lush meadows, dry or fresh. Also in forest clearings and along forest roads.
Behavior:
A strong flyer moving far about to look for mates and flowers. Can be identified by this behavior from a distance.
Status:
Declining in Denmark. Most common in Jutland.
Host plants:
Muse-Vikke (Vicia cracca) [Tufted Vetch ~ Arveja Silvestre ~ Kråkvicker]
Gul Fladbælg (Lathyrus pratensis) [Meadow Vetchling ~ Gulvial]
Gul Fladbælg (Lathyrus pratensis) [Meadow Vetchling ~ Gulvial]
Feeding plants:
Ærteblomstfamilien [Pea-family ~ Leguminosas ~ Ärtväxter]
Comment:
Flying most numerously at the beginning of July, in between the peaks of the two icarus (Almindelig Blåful) generations.
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891
(3 photos)
2022-07-03 Bøtø-skoven, Denmark Imago ♂ We didn't have much time to explore the large grassy field where it lives, why we only found 4 animals. But should be rather common here. And also glad to finally be able to get experience with the species, after having looked for it at Ulfshale twice, without finding any with certainty. The cleaner underside and the lack of a white wedge on the hindwing below, makes the comparison with Common Blue, a bit confusing. But I guess it's based on the fact that they both fly in the same habitat and that worn Common Blues soon can look very pale. Will be interesting to get more experience, next year!, to learn the differences better. |
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967
(3 photos)
2022-07-12 Horna Grushåla (Åhus), Sweden Imago ♂ Very worn, but the black ribbons on the upperside restricted to the outer part is visible and a indicator of this species. |
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1579
(5 photos)
2023-06-07 Valdemarsvik (Östergötland), Sweden Imago ♂ Not common at all where we visited, why this beautiful male was appreciated. Note: the filenames are wrongly referring to Ida's Blue. |
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1731
(2 photos)
2023-07-08 Rold Skov (midtjylland), Denmark Imago ♂ Bogs near Skørping. In the drier grassy area. |
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889
(1 photos)
2022-07-03 Bøtø-skoven, Denmark Imago ♀ Worn. |
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890
(3 photos)
2022-07-03 Bøtø-skoven, Denmark Imago ♀ The female is rather dull-looking, both compared to the male but also in general it appears. |
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965
(1 photos)
2022-07-12 Horna Grushåla (Åhus), Sweden Imago A very worn individual without any traces of the orange band on the hindwing. Not sure about sex. I know it is normally the Common Blue that it gets compared to, but I think this individual resembles a Large Blue much better with the large black spots underneath. The latter, however, often shows a line of double dots along the edge, almost like stiches. which this animals doesn't show. |
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966
(1 photos)
2022-07-12 Horna Grushåla (Åhus), Sweden Imago Probably a female. Very worn but still the orange band on the basal half of the hindwing is present making it straight forward to id it. |