Male, Switzerland, July 2007
Pair mating, Switzerland, July 2007
Pair mating, Switzerland, July 2007
Female, Switzerland, July 2005
Female, Switzerland, July 2005
Female, Switzerland, July 2005
Male, Switzerland, July 2006
Female, form steeveni, Switzerland, August 2004
Female, form steeveni, Switzerland, August 2004
This is a very distinctive species. The male is clear blue, with a narrow black border and a slightly scalloped hindwing. In many ways, however, the female is the more spectacular butterfly and the one more likely to catch the eye as being 'different'. As these pictures show, she is easily recognised by the scalloped edge of the hindwing, as well as by a very characteristic overall appearance. The male looks far more like a typical blue from the upperside, and has the characteristics of the species in a much milder form - notably less deep scalloping.
Meleager's blues are local in southern France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy, and apparently more widespread further east. My impression is that they are not common, since I have watched thousands of blues and not seen daphnis until the last few years.