Mazarine blue - Cyaniris semiargus

	Family: Lycaenidae Flight Time: May - August Size: 28-34mm Altitude: 0-2200m
The deep blue colour and heavy venation make the Mazarine blue a glorious sight. They used to be resident in the UK but have long been extinct. The male pictured below was amongst an incredible collection of blues and other butterflies puddling for salts in Switzerland.

In Greece and there is a very distinctive subspecies, helena with bright orange markings. Some authors consider it to be a separate species, but across its range there are many intermediate forms. A female is pictured below right. Both pictures were taken in Greece by Mark Ogden.

© All pictures in these pages copyright to Simon Coombes. Permission must be sought and obtained for any use.