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''Cupido alcetas'', the Provençal short-tailed blue, is a small butterfly that belongs to the family Lycaenidae.
Fauna europaea
/ref>
/ref>Simon Coombe
''Cupido alcetas'' has a wingspan of . In these small butterflies the upperside of the wings is blue-purple in males, brown in females ( sexual dimorphism). The wing edge is black, with a white fringe. The underface of the wings is pale blue-gray, with a series of small black spots encircled with clearer blue. On the underside hindwings usually there is no orange. Sometimes it is present a single orange-colored anal spot that does not reach the marginal black spot. Close to the anal angle usually is present a thin, very short tail.
This species is similar to the Short-tailed blue (''
/ref> These larvae are myrmecophiles, living in association with ants of the genus '' Formica''.
''Cupido alcetas''
at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera * Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfil
* ttp://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Cupido_Alcetas Lepiforum.de Cupido (butterfly) Butterflies of Europe Butterflies described in 1804 Taxa named by Johann Centurius Hoffmannsegg {{Polyommatini-stub
Etymology
The Latin species name ''alcetas'' refers to Ἄλκηστις ( Alcestis), in Greek mythology a princess daughter of Pelias, king of Iolcus.Distribution
First described from Austria by Johann Centurius Hoffmannsegg in 1804, it occurs locally in southern and central Europe, Turkey, the Urals, southern Siberia and northern Kazakhstan.Львовский А.Л., Моргун Д.В. 2007. Булавоусые чешуекрылые Восточной Европы. Москва: КМК. . p. 230Tolman, Tom & Richard Lewington. 1997. ''Butterflies of Britain and Europe. Field Guide.'' London: Collins. ./ref>
Habitat
This species lives in flowery grassy places, bushy and damp areas and woodland clearings at an elevation of above sea level.Eurobutterflies.com/ref>Simon Coombe
Description
''Cupido alcetas'' has a wingspan of . In these small butterflies the upperside of the wings is blue-purple in males, brown in females ( sexual dimorphism). The wing edge is black, with a white fringe. The underface of the wings is pale blue-gray, with a series of small black spots encircled with clearer blue. On the underside hindwings usually there is no orange. Sometimes it is present a single orange-colored anal spot that does not reach the marginal black spot. Close to the anal angle usually is present a thin, very short tail.
This species is similar to the Short-tailed blue (''Everes argiades
The short-tailed blue or tailed Cupid (''Cupido argiades'') is a butterfly that forms part of the family Lycaenidae. It is found from Europe to Japan and in India.
Description
The male has a violet upperside, a violet forewing with brown edgin ...
'') and to the Holly blue (''Celastrina argiolus
The holly blue (''Celastrina argiolus'') Retrieved April 20, 2018. is a butterfly that belongs to the lycaenids or blues family and is native to the Palearctic.
The holly blue has pale silver-blue wings spotted with pale ivory dots. Seitz des ...
'').
Biology
Adults fly from May to September. Depending on the location, the species produces two to three generations annually (in May–June, July–August and in warmer regions in late September). Larvae feed on leaves and inflorescences of various herbaceous plants of the family (such as ''Coronilla varia
''Securigera varia'' ( synonym ''Coronilla varia''), commonly known as crownvetch or purple crown vetch, is a low-growing legume vine. It is native to Africa, Asia and Europe and is commonly used throughout the United States and Canada for eros ...
'', '' Galega officinalis'', ''Trifolium
Clover or trefoil are common names for plants of the genus ''Trifolium'' (from Latin ''tres'' 'three' + ''folium'' 'leaf'), consisting of about 300 species of flowering plants in the legume or pea family Fabaceae originating in Europe. The genus h ...
'' sp., '' Vicia'' sp., '' Medicago lupulina'' and ''Securigera varia
''Securigera varia'' ( synonym ''Coronilla varia''), commonly known as crownvetch or purple crown vetch, is a low-growing legume vine. It is native to Africa, Asia and Europe and is commonly used throughout the United States and Canada for eros ...
'').Pieris.ch/ref> These larvae are myrmecophiles, living in association with ants of the genus '' Formica''.
References
External links
''Cupido alcetas''
at Markku Savela's website on Lepidoptera * Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfil
* ttp://www.lepiforum.de/lepiwiki.pl?Cupido_Alcetas Lepiforum.de Cupido (butterfly) Butterflies of Europe Butterflies described in 1804 Taxa named by Johann Centurius Hoffmannsegg {{Polyommatini-stub