Meleager’s blue

Polyommatus daphnis

One of the blue butterflies with a wingspan of 33-38 mm, easily distinguishable from other blues by the scalloped hindwings; males are a shiny blue while females are variable. There are several distinct subspecies in Lebanon. The Meleager’s inhabits middle heights, in scrubland, flowery meadows, grassland, woodland, thickets, and on dry stony slopes. Host plants include birdsfoot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), milk-vetches (Astragalus spp.), crown-vetches (Coronilla spp.), horseshoe-vetches (Hippocrepis spp.), vetchlings (Lathyrus spp.), and thymes (Thymus spp.). It flies June through August.

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