Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Fabaceae such as brooms or sainfoin, on Cistaceae (Helianthemum nummularium) and Ericaceae. In acidic grasslands the caterpillars often live on Genista sagittalis, in calcareous ones on Helianthemum nummularium. In moors and on sand heaths or dwarf-shrub-dominated slopes in the central Alps, the eggs are often laid on Vaccinium sp.

Habitat:
Callophrys rubi inhabits open land and dwarf shrub zones. Almost all nutrient-poor habitats can be settled, such as limestone grasslands, heaths, moors, very sparse forests, Alpine pastures and the Mediterranean maquis. Callophrys rubi rises as only European Hairstreak in the Alpine area up to over 2600m above sea level. Only Satyrium spini is able to settle on warm slopes up to nearly 1800m above sea level in the southwestern Alps, but not in the northern Alps.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates. The adults occur in almost always only a single generation from late March or April to June, in the mountains even until July, but in the south already from late February. The larva can be found mainly from May to July/August.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
In the lowlands, Callophrys rubi is in decline by the loss of economical worthless country (grasslands, sandy heaths, bogs etc.) and thus occurs more and more on small-scale special relic locations. In the mountains and in southern Europe, however, the butterfly is not endangered.

Remarks:
Callophrys rubi occurs from north Africa across Europe and large parts of northern and Central Asia to the Amur.