Green-underside Blue
Key facts
- Latin name
- Glaucopsyche alexis
- Family
- Lycaenidae
- Wingspan
- 26-36 mm
- Flight season
- April — June
- Host plants
- Mouse vetch, Grass pea, Clover
- Conservation status
- LC
Appearance
The green-underside blue (Glaucopsyche alexis) is a small blue with a wingspan of 26–36 mm. Males are bright blue above with a narrow dark border. Females are dark brown.
The defining mark is the underside of the hindwings: bright green with one row of black spots in white rings. Green below makes it inconspicuous on fresh foliage.
Range and habitat
Found in Europe and temperate Asia. In Russia in the European part.
It lives on warm forest edges, meadow slopes, and roadsides with legumes. One of the earliest blues.
Life cycle
One generation per year. Flight April–June.
Eggs on buds and leaves of legumes. Caterpillar green, feeding on flowers and young pods. Pupa brownish. Pupa overwinters.
Like other blues, the caterpillar associates with ants that protect it in exchange for honeydew from a dorsal gland.