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BALKAN ZEPHYR BLUE

As I am finding out, when trying to identify the small blue butterflies, you require a photo of the underside of the wings and a good reference book. The Balkan zephyr blue has a wingspan of 27 to 32mm. The upper wings of the male are an inky dark blue with a white outer border. Inside this is a thin black line followed by black spots on the hind wings. The underside of the wings is a silvery grey, with black spots bordered with white and orange spots on the edge of the wing. The female upper wings are brown with orange spots.

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This butterfly has 1 brood between May and July. The caterpillars feed on milk vetches. Balkan zephyr blues are found between 500 and 2000m, usually on stoney or sandy grasslands that have the milk vetches for the larvae. Scrubland and sparse woodland can also reward you with a sighting.

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