Polyommatus orbitulus (Prunner, 1798)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Fabaceae such as Astragalus, Oxytropis and Hedysarum. In the northern Alps they can be observed quite often on Oxytropis jaquinii.

Habitat:
Polyommatus orbitulus inhabits alpine meadows and rocky slopes from about 1600m above sea level. The butterfly often occurs on more humid and flowery, grassy slopes with open soil areas. I found caterpillars, for example, in June 2005 and in June 2009 on Oxytropis jaquinii in a rocky niche in 2300m asl in the west Austrian Rätikon.

Life cycle:
Polyommatus orbitulus hibernates as a young caterpillar and the adults are on the wing in a single generation between June and August. The eggs are usually found on the upper side of the leaflets.

Endangerment factors:
Polyommatus orbitulus is endangered only little (locally by touristic infrastructure).

Remarks:
Polyommatus orbitulus is found in the Alps, in Norway and in the southern part of the Urals.