Chequered Blue - Scolitantides orion

Chequered Blue

Scolitantides orion

Switzerland, April 2007

The chequered blue is a fairly rare butterfly and I have only seen it at one (rather extended) colony in the Rhône Valley of Switzerland. However, at this site it is often numerous and is an ever-present accompaniment to butterfly walks there in May and early June (or, in 2007, in April!!).

The butterfly favours hot, rocky, south-facing slopes with sedum. It frequently basks in the sun on flowers, foliage or on the road surface and is not difficult to approach. In the Rhône Valley the males are dark with very little blue scaling - the first picture above shows about as much blue as I have ever seen in this species. In the Tessin, where it also flies, it is apparently far bluer, and this is the normal form in other parts of Europe (the south) where it is found.