Lycaena thetis Klug, 1834

Host plants:
The larva feeds on Acantholimon androsaceum (Plumbaginaceae), in Asia also other Acantholimon species.

Habitat:
Lycaena thetis inhabits dry and warm, often rocky, but at least shallow mountain slopes between 1700 and 2300m, in Asia still much higher.

Life cycle:
The males are territorial and follow in their small and often changing patch other individuals. The flight time is in July and August with peak in between. The larvae develop in spring up to June. I recorded numerous mature larvae on Mount Taygetos in 2100m (08. June 2021). The well camouflaged larvae rested openly on the surface of the cushions of the hostplant.

Remarks:
Lycaena thetis occurs in Europe only on some mounatins of central and southern Greece (to Mount Taygetos in the south). In Asia, it is much more widespread in mountain ranges from Turkey across the Near and Middle East to N-India.

Literature:
Tolman, T. (1993): The natural history, ecology and Distribution of Turana panagaea (Herrich-Schäffer, [1851] and Lycaena thetis (Klug, 1834) in Greece (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae). — Phegea, 21 (3): 81-92.