Short-tailed Blue (Cupido argiades) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

The Short-tailed Blue is a small butterfly found in flower-rich grasslands in Europe and temperate Asia, including Japan. It is not normally found in the United States. Short tails and orange-and-black spots near the hindwing corners help distinguish it from other small blue butterflies.

Appearance

Appearance: The wingspan is about 0.8–1.2 in (20–30 mm). Males are blue above, females are mostly brown, and both sexes have pale undersides with black spots, fine tails, and orange markings near the hindwing corners.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: flower-rich meadows
damp grasslands
farmland edges
grassy wasteland
Range: It ranges from Europe across temperate Asia to Japan; it is not part of the regular U.S. butterfly fauna.
Preferred conditions: In its Old World range, it uses flower-rich grassland with clovers, vetches, and other legume .

Behavior

Activity: Adults fly low over grassy vegetation and visit flowers. European populations may have two or three generations in a year.
Overwintering: In Europe, full-grown caterpillars leave their food plants, spend winter among plant debris on the ground, and become later.

Life cycle

Caterpillar food plants: In Europe, caterpillar host plants include alfalfa and species of clover, vetch, bird’s-foot trefoil, and melilot.

Name and classification

About the name: It has also been called Everes argiades and Elkalyce argiades.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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