Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

🦋 Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus) – Detailed Overview

🧬 Taxonomy & Classification

• Order: Lepidoptera
• Family: Lycaenidae (Gossamer-winged butterflies)
• Genus: Cyaniris (previously grouped with Polyommatus)
• Species: semiargus
• Common Name: Mazarine Blue
• Authority: (Rottemburg, 1775)

🌍 Distribution & Habitat

📍 Geographic Range

• Found across much of continental Europe, parts of Scandinavia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and temperate areas of Russia.
• Extinct or greatly reduced in parts of Western Europe, especially the UK, where it vanished around 1906.

🏞️ Preferred Habitat

• Flower-rich meadows, pastures, roadside verges, alpine grasslands, and lightly grazed areas.
• Requires moist, unimproved grassland with host plants and nectar sources.
• Altitude: Sea level up to 2000 m in alpine regions.

🧍‍♂️ Identification

♂ Male

• Upperside: Deep velvety blue wings with a narrow black border and white fringe.
• Underside: Pale grey-brown with small black spots without orange lunules (key distinguishing feature).

♀ Female

• Upperside: Brown with a hint of blue near the base, sometimes lightly dusted.
• Underside: Similar to male, pale greyish-brown with clear black dots, no orange markings.

🔍 Wingspan

• 28–32 mm.

🐛 Caterpillar

• Pale green, with faint darker striping and fine hairs.
• Resembles other Lycaenid larvae but more slender and with less pronounced segmentation.

📆 Life Cycle

🔄 Voltinism

• Univoltine (one generation per year).

🐣 Reproductive Cycle

1. Eggs: Laid singly on the underside of host plant leaves or flowers.
2. Larvae: Feed mainly at night; undergo several moults.
3. Pupation: In grass tussocks or leaf litter.
4. Overwintering Stage: As pupa.

📅 Flight Period

• May to July (varies by region and altitude).

🌿 Ecology & Diet

🐛 Larval Host Plants

• Clovers, especially:
  • Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
  • Alsike Clover (Trifolium hybridum)
  • Other legumes occasionally used.

🦋 Adult Nectar Sources

• Red clover, bird’s-foot trefoil, thistles, knapweed, and other grassland wildflowers.

🤝 Symbiosis & Ant Interaction

• Unlike many Lycaenid species, Cyaniris semiargus does not have a strong mutualistic relationship with ants (myrmecophily is minimal or absent).

🧬 Distinguishing Features

📉 Conservation Status

• IUCN Status: Least Concern globally, but declining in many areas.
• UK Status: Extinct (last seen in early 20th century).

⚠️ Threats

• Habitat loss due to:
  • Agricultural intensification
  • Overgrazing or undergrazing
  • Fertilizer and pesticide use
  • Drainage of wet meadows

🛡️ Conservation Measures

• Protection of flower-rich grasslands.
• Promote low-intensity grazing and mowing.
• Maintain populations of wild clover and legumes.
• Monitoring and habitat restoration in decline areas.

💡 Interesting Facts

• The name “Mazarine” comes from Cardinal Mazarin, whose robe color may have inspired the term for the deep blue hue.
• Often confused with Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus), but easily distinguished by the absence of orange on the underside.
• A butterfly of quiet meadows – its decline is a bioindicator of vanishing traditional grassland ecosystems.

📚 References & Further Reading

• Butterfly Conservation Europe: Cyaniris semiargus profile
• Tolman & Lewington (2009). Collins Butterfly Guide.
• IUCN Red List: Cyaniris semiargus
• UK Biodiversity Action Plan (historic data)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common tiger (Danaus genutia)

Orange Tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines)

Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album)

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Orange gull (Cepora judith)

Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Common copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Blue glassy tiger (Ideopsis similis)

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Download full size image The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is a charming butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, known for its striking appearance and widespread distribution across Europe and parts of Asia. Here's a detailed description: Physical Characteristics: The Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is of medium size, with a wingspan typically ranging from 45 to 55 millimeters. It displays a distinctive pattern of bright orange wings bordered by a black band with white spots. The forewings also feature a row of blue crescents near the outer edge, while the hindwings have a series of blue spots and a border of black and yellow. The undersides of the wings are mottled brown, providing effective camouflage when the butterfly is at rest. Habitat and Distribution: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, grasslands, woodlands, gardens, and urban areas. They are distributed across much of Europe, including the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean region, as well as parts of Asia, such as Siberia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. They are particularly abundant in temperate regions with diverse plant species. Behavior and Life Cycle: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are diurnal and active during the warmer months of the year, especially in spring and summer. They are strong and agile flyers, often seen fluttering among flowers in search of nectar and mates. The females lay eggs singly on the leaves of stinging nettles (Urtica spp.), which serve as the primary larval host plant. The caterpillars hatch from the eggs and feed on the leaves of the host plants before pupating and emerging as adult butterflies. Conservation Status: The Small Tortoiseshell is not considered globally threatened and is generally common and widespread throughout its range. However, like many butterfly species, it may face localized threats due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation caused by agricultural intensification, urbanization, and climate change. Conservation efforts focused on preserving and restoring habitats, protecting larval host plants, and minimizing human disturbance are crucial for ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic butterfly species. Overall, the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful and ecologically important species, valued for its striking appearance, graceful flight, and role in pollination and ecosystem functioning. Its presence adds vibrancy and vitality to natural landscapes and serves as a symbol of the rich biodiversity of the regions where it is found.

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

False heath fritillary (Melitaea diamina)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Northern chequered skipper (Carterocephalus silvicola)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Chestnut heath (Coenonympha glycerion)

Lesser marbled fritillary (Brenthis ino)

Common tiger (Danaus genutia)

European peacock (Inachis io)

Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

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