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Andalusian Anomalous Blue. Polyommatus violetae (Gómez-Bustillo, Expósito & Martínez, 1979)

Diputación de Málaga
061 Velludita parda bética

Andalusian Anomalous Blue. Polyommatus violetae (Gómez-Bustillo, Expósito & Martínez, 1979)

Present
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Safe appearance Probable appearance
MediosLand
Animal Life > Butterflies

Wingspan: From 2.4 to 3 cm.

Code

Closed wings: It is light brown with a white stretch across a big part of the hindwings. Sometimes, there also smaller dots on the same wings, and a wide space between two of them. Moreover, small spots on the outer margins can be seen, although not clearly on all butterflies. There is no dot on the forewings discal area.

Open wings: It hardly ever stretches its wings. Both sexes are brown.

Similar species

Due to its peculiar colour, a long white stretch across the wings and the lack of dots make it difficult to be confused with other species.

Biology and Habitat

These butterflies count on only one generation a year, which flies in July and August in mountainous areas at an altitude that ranges between and 1100 and 1650 m. They can be found in spacious areas in forests, on scrubland or pastures, and, very often, close to humid places such as streams, small lakes, drinking troughs and springs. Their caterpillars feed on leguminous plant called Onobrychis argentea.

Distribution in the Great Path

This is an endemic species in Andalusia, which can only be found in the mountains of Málaga, Granada, Jaén, Albacete and Murcia. Its subspecies violetae, which is present in Málaga, is considered to be endangered species in 'Libro Rojo de los Invertebrados de Andalucía' [The Red Book of the Andalusian Invertebrates]. The species in question is rather rare and limited to specific locations in Málaga. There is no doubt, it is a real gem of the GMP regarding butterflies. It is present at a specific spot on stage 11. It is greatly important to report any information about spotting the species at any point along or outside of the GMP. Therefore, we recommend talking to the author of this guide about the data gathered during the observation.