Alcon large blue

Description

Phengaris alcon,the Alcon blue or Alcon large blue,is a butterfly of the Lycaenidae family and is found in Europe and northern Asia.L.alcon Schiff.(= areas Esp.,euphemus Godt.) (83 a).Large,the male above deep blue,but without brillant gloss.The female black-brown,dusted with dark blue in the basal area.The dark violet-grey underside has numerous ocelli.L.alcon is easily distinguished from the following species (coeligena,euphemus,arcas,arion,arionides...) by the male bearing on the blue disc of the forewing no other black spots but the discocellular lunule.Central Europe and North Asia,from the coast of the North Sea (Hamburg,Bremen,Belgium) to the Mediterranean,and from France to the Altai,Dauria and Tibet,ab.nigra Wheel,has the males strongly darkened,the females being quite black above.