Glaucopsyche melanops (Boisduval, 1828)

Host plants:
The larvae primarily feed on Dorycnium species such as Dorycnium pentaphyllum and on Anthyllis species such as A. cytisoides, secondarily also on further Fabaceae like Lotus or Genista. The larvae prefer flowers and fruits.

Habitat:
Glaucopsyche melanops inhabits dry nutrient-poor grasslands, garrigues, open scrub and similar places.

Life cycle:
The pupa hibernates. The adults appear early from March to mid-May. The adults often feed on various flowers, but prefer - if possible - those of the larval host plants. I tapped the larvae together with those of Zygaena occitanica from Dorycnium pentaphyllum bushes (about half a meter high semi-scrub) in late May. I observed often ovipositions on flower buds of Anthyllis cytisoides in Spain, especially on low-growing bushes that had been mown in autumn.

Endangerment factors:
Glaucopsyche melanops is threatened by the progressive cultivation of dry land through agriculture and in second importance also other land consumers (settlements, industry, tourism, energy).

Remarks:
Glaucopsyche melanops occurs from North Africa to the Provence and westernmost Liguria and is missing in central Europe. I know Glaucopsyche melanops from a dry, shrubby grassland with Pyrgus onopordi in the area of the Verdon gorges (Provence).