Fluturat e Shqipërisë
Butterflies of Albania

Sylvain Cuvelier =
Anila Paparisto =

Last update: 05.viii.2023

Leptotes pirithous / Lang's Short-tailed Blue
Trupshkurtra vjollcë-blu
Lycaenidae - Polyommatinae

Leptotes pirithous (Linnaeus, 1767). TL: Algeria.

1a. Leptotes pirithous, distribution map. Historical data ; Additional data from the 2018 update ; New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Leptotes pirithous ♂ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)

Description
♂♂
Smal butterfly. Fw: 12-13 mm.
Ups: blue gc, narrow dark marginal border.
Hw: tail at the anal angle.
Uph: inconspicuous dark marginal spots in s1b and sometimes s2.
Unh: no conspicuous white postdiscal band and variable pattern of white lines.
♀♀
Similar size.
Ups: brown gc.
Upf: blue basal suffusion, dark discal and postdiscal spots.
Uph: faint basal bluish flush, dark round marginal spot in s2.
Unh: no conspicuous white postdiscal band and variable pattern of white lines.

Similar species

Lampides boeticus Size: larger. Hw: long tail. Upf: ♀♀ violet blue basal and discal area; Uph: ♂♂ and ♀♀ two conspicuous black spots Unf: regular pale brown pattern. Unf: distinct white pd band. Unh: distinct white pd band. Unh: regular pale brown pattern. Compare also: Tarucus balkanicus Size: sligthly smaller. Hw: short tail. Uns: black dots on white gc. Unh: 4-5 gleaming blue ocelli. Cupido alcetas Cupido argiades Cupido decoloratus Size: slightly smaller or siimilar. Hw: short tail. Uns: no pattern and pale sliver-grey gc.

Life cycle
Adults: continuous generations (up to 4) from late-March to November.
Egg: potential overwintering stage, otherwise a short stage.
Caterpillar: short stage.
Pupa: short stage.

Habitat
Leptotes pirithous inhabits hot, moist areas with shrubs and Rubus, often near cultivated and ruderal areas.
Spatial requirement is low, population density can be high, migrating.

Foodplants
Caterpillars feed on a large variety of Fabaceae, also mentioned are Lythraceae and Ericaceae.
Butterflies often feed on Rubus.

Distribution
Albania: widespread.
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP - BAL - NWE* - UK - SCA - EEU (depends on migration)
Asia Minor, Near East, S. Transcaucasia, W. Caucasus and further east.

Conservation status
Leptotes pirithous is not endangered.
Albanian Red Llist: LC.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.

Useful links
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
Euroleps

Contact