Polyommatus eumedon (Esper, 1780)

Synonyms/other combinations:
Aricia eumedon, Eumedonia eumedon


Polyommatus eumedon: Male (Switzerland, Simplon south, early July 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Male upper side (Memmingen, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Male (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Male (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Male (eastern Swabian Alb, July 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Adult feeding on Crepis sp. (Memmingen, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Female (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Female (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, 2009) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Female [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Courtship (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, 2009) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Courtship (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, 2009) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Courtship (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Oviposition (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Oviposition (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Male (Northern Greece, Askio mountains near Siatista, May 2011) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Female on Erodium hartvigianum (Northern Greece, Askio mountains, May 2011) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Lower side (Northern Greece, Askio mountains, May 2011) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Female (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Female (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Male (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Female (Northern Greece, Vitsi N of Kastoria, late June 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Adult (Northern Greece, Vitsi, late June 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Adult (Northern Greece, Vitsi, late June 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Ovum [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Eggs at Geranium palustre (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Eggs at Geranium palustre (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Eggs at Geranium pratense (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Eggs at Geranium pratense (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Hatching egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Hatching egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Hatching egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Hatching egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Hatching egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Hatching egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Hatching egg (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Empty egg shell (S-Germany, Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Egg on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Ovae at Erodium hartvigianum, Northern Greece, Askio mountains, May 2011) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Egg on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar eating itself into the ovary (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar eating itself into the ovary (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar has eaten itself into the ovary (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Bury hole of a larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Feeding scars in a ovary of a larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the first instar (Stuttgart, late June 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Young larva (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Young larva (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the second instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the second instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the second instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the second instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the second instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: A larva in the third instar feeding within the fruit of Geranium palustre (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar feeding on fruit from the outside (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar feeding on fruit from the outside (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar feeding on fruit from the outside (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar (N-Greece, Siatista, June 2019) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar already in winter diapause (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar already in winter diapause (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar already in winter diapause (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva in the third instar already in winter diapause (Stuttgart, July 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Young larva in the third instar after hibernation (early April 2010, Heidenheim, eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Young larva in the third instar after hibernation (early April 2010, Heidenheim, eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva in the fourth instar [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva in the fourth instar (Heidenheim, April 2010) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva in the fourth instar (Heidenheim, April 2010) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva after the last moult (Heidenheim, May 2010) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Three larvae on a single leaf (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, May 2010) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, May 2010) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Pupa [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Pupa [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Pupa [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Half-grown larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Larva on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [M] Polyommatus eumedon: Feeding traces with wilting young leaves on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Pupa of a population on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Pupa of a population on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Pupa of a population on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Pupa of a population on Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [S] Polyommatus eumedon: Feeding pattern with wilting leaf (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: In rainy weather the otherwise wilting leaf  unfolds again (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Wilting leaf where a half-grown larva hides: typical search pattern, accompanied by ants, eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, May 2010 [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Feeding pattern with wilting leaf (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: The same leaf turned, Heidenheim, easternSwaian Alb, May 2010 [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Geranium palustre that hosts several larvae (eastern Swabian Alb, May 2013) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat at larval time (Heidenheim/Brenz, eastern Swabian Alb, May 2010) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with flowering Geranium palustre (S-Germany, Memmingen, 19. July 2020) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with flowering Geranium palustre (S-Germany, Memmingen, 19. July 2020) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with flowering Geranium palustre that has been mown at the wrong time (S-Germany, Memmingen, 19. July 2020) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with flowering Geranium palustre that has been mown at the wrong time (S-Germany, Memmingen, 19. July 2020) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany) with Geranium pratense and especially Geranium palustre in a ditch [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Erodium hartvigianum: host plant in some localities in Northern Greece, Askio mountains, May 2011. [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Erodium hartvigianum: host plant in some localities in Northern Greece, Askio mountains, May 2011. [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat in Northern Greece in the Askio mountains near Siatista: dry grasslands with Erodium hartvigianum. The population was reduced in recent years due to road building for a solar farm. [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early June 2019) [N] Polyommatus eumedon: Habitat with Erodium hartvigianum (N-Greece, Siatista, early April 2022) [N]

Host plants:
The species requires large-flowered Geranium species such as particularly Geranium palustre and (in the Alps) Geranium sylvaticum. Other suitable species are Geranium sanguineum and G. pratense.
In Northern Greece I observed a population that oviposits on the large- and yellow-flowered Erodium hartvigianum in the Askion Mountains near Siatista (Kozani, May 2011).

Habitat:
Polyommatus eumedon colonizes tall herb communities with the occurrence of host plants in the humid, mesophilic and dry spectrum. In the lowlands of Central Europe, the butterfly is most often found in wet to waterlogged Filipendula ulmaria/Geranium palustre communities. Most sites are unmown and rich in litter. In the Alpine region (usually on Geranium sylvaticum), Polyommatus eumedon is distributed to over 2000m on wetter slopes, stream banks and more rarely also in forest gap systems.

Life cycle:
The adults fly in one generation from late May (in the south from early May) until the end of July, in the Alps until August. In low-altitude wetland habitats, Polyommatus eumedon usually occurs from June to early/mid-July. Eggs are deposited in flowers (flower base, style). The first instars live within the ovary feeding on the seeds. The brown young caterpillar in the third instar overwinters in moss and litter, the mature caterpillar is found in May. It gnaws through petioles and lives, accompanied by plenty of ants, in a natural tent (no webbing) of the withering leaf.

Endangerment factors:
In the Alps, Polyommatus eumedon is endangered only locally (tourism activities, forest/pasture separation, overgrazing). But in the lowlands the butterfly is threatened with extinction in many places and is still more common only regionally. Typical endangerment factors are the often economically senseless mowing down to the very edge of a stream, intense management and mowing of ditches, afforestation and planting groves.

A population on Erodium (Northern Greece, Siatista) with many interesting companion species was strongly affected by road construction and a solar farm. When more and more solar farms will be created in Greece (and elsewhere) in the coming years, then another severe problem will arise for the nature in Europe that is already damaged by industry, EU-funded agriculture and massive overbuilding! Because these solar parks are certainly not built on optimal agricultural land, but rather on so far economical worthless, natural places.

Remarks:
Polyommatus eumedon feeds nectar as an imago usually on Geranium, but also on Lathyrus, Crepis etc. Polyommatus eumedon usually occurs in higher densities. The butterfly allegedly does not tolerate mowing. Apparently, however, a (partial) mowing in autumn (October) is not too harmful at least in moss- and litter-rich sites with vigorous growth as long as cutting is not too deep and thorough. I know of several large populations, which habitats are mowed in the autumn almost entirely. Nonetheless it is better for the protection of Polyommatus eumedon that at least the areas with the densest occurrence of larval food plant remain uncut for years.

Polyommatus eumedon is distributed in Central Europe, some mountains of Southern Europe and in Scandinavia. The butterfly also occurs in parts of temperate Asia to Mongolia. In Europe it is missing in the northwest and is very local in the south.



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