Wingspan: 25–35 mm
Flight period: in two generations; from May to June and from July to September
Larval host plants: common horseshoe-vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) and variegated crown-vetch (Coronilla varia)
Azure blue or beautiful Argus (Polyommatus bellargus or Lysandra bellargus or Meleageria bellargus) is one of the most common blues in our country. The male's upperside is a shimmering sky-blue color, while the female is dark brown with some blue tint mainly near the body. Specimens of both sexes have along the wing edge a distinctive black-and-white striped band. The pattern of white-edged black spots on the underside of its wings is very similar to the pattern of some other blue butterflies. Unlike them, the beautiful Argus has on the underside of the forewings one more black dot, located on the inner third of the wing.
Azure blue lives in dry grassy and shrubby areas on carbonate substrate, where it can be observed from lowlands to high mountains. Some species of ants protect its caterpillars, as they produce a sweet secretion that the ants feed on.
