| Family | Lycaenidae |
|---|---|
| Subfamily | Polyommatinae |
| Genus | Aricia |
| Species | anteros |
| Authority | (Freyer, 1838) |
| English Name | Blue Argus |
| European Red List 2010 | Near Threatened (NT) |
|---|---|
| EU 27 Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
| European Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| EU 27 Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| Habitats Directive | |
| Bern Convention | |
| CITES |
The Blue Argus is a species of flower-rich grasslands and rocky slopes with grassy vegetation. Sometimes, they are also seen on scrub or in woodland clearings. This butterfly it is often found where the soil is calcareous. Various sorts of crane’s-bills (Geranium spp.) are used as foodplant, including G. asphodeloides, Bloody Crane’s-bill (G. sanguineum), and Rock Crane’s-bill (G. macrorrhizum). The caterpillars feed on the leaves and are attended by ants. Depending on the altitude, the Blue Argus has one to three generations a year.
Albania / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Greece / Greece: Mainland / North Macedonia / Montenegro / Romania (Regionally Extinct) / Serbia / Serbia: Serbia / Serbia: Kosovo / European Türkiye / Ukraine /