| Family | Lycaenidae |
|---|---|
| Subfamily | Polyommatinae |
| Genus | Polyommatus |
| Species | daphnis |
| Authority | ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| English Name | Meleager's Blue |
| European Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
|---|---|
| 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 Meleager’s Blue is a local butterfly that occurs on poor, rough vegetation and poor grassland often near woods. The populations are usually small. The scalloped edge of the hindwing of the female distinguishes this species from all other blues. The female lays her eggs on Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) and Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia), favouring plants that grow in the shade provided by rocks or woodland. The caterpillars are attended by ants, including species of Lasius, Formica, and Tapinoma. Either the egg or the small caterpillar hibernates, and pupation takes place in the litter layer. The Meleager’s Blue has one generation a year.
Albania / Austria / Belarus / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Czechia / France / France: Mainland / Germany / Greece / Greece: Mainland / Greece: East Aegean Islands / Hungary / Italy / Italy: Mainland / Italy: Sicily / Lithuania / North Macedonia / Moldova / Montenegro / Poland / Romania / European Russia / Serbia / Serbia: Serbia / Serbia: Kosovo / Slovakia / Slovenia / Spain / Spain: Mainland / Switzerland / European Türkiye / Ukraine /