Our
four Large Blues (Maculinea spp.). There was
a great
article presented recently on Surfbirds, which give me
an idea to summarize the situation of our Large Blues here
in the Carpathian-basin and around. Luckily we are still having
large population of each of them, and even we have places
where you can see them all on one spot. Here is some
pictures about these gorgoues blues and some comments about
their status, distribution and taxonomy. 15
August, 2009
Alcon
Blue. Quite widespread but uncommon butterfly in the Carpathian-basin,
typical for hilly areas, with very complex taxonomy. The species
using Gentiana pneumonanthe and G. cruciata here as a foodplant,
while many scientist considered it like two taxa under the
name M. alcon and M. xerophily. Several new taxa were described,
now all of them synonims, inc. M.a.sevastos, curiosa, limitanea.
The balcanic M. tolistus and the high-alpine M.rebeli are
probably bona species, but still require further researches.
Now all taxa in the Carpathian-basin considered to be part
of the nominateform. All the Large Maculineas lives in symbiosis
with certain ant species (Myrmica spp.)
Gentiana
pneumonanthe with eggs of the Alcon Blue.
Scarce
Large Blue Common in Hungary on well-maintained meadows and
wetlands, where its completely monophaguous with its foodplant,
Sanguisorba officinale. Rare in Croatia and Romania, but there
are some good population in Slovenia too.
Scarce Large Blue' female, laying eggs on the flower of S.
officinalis.
Dusky
Large Blue. Probably the rarest of the Central-European Maculineas.
Very rare in Slovenia and Romania with 1-2 locations, unknown
from Croatia, but still widespread and common at some spots
here in Hungary, at our western borders. Sharing habitats
with Scarce Large Blue, but much scarcer! :)
Sanguisorba
officinalis, the foodplant of Scarce and Dusky Large Blues,
and many other beauties...
Large Blue. We have two forms, one is a classic M. arion,
the other phenotypically resembling the so-called M. ligurica
(genetically surely different). They are different by their
flying period and foodplants as well (Thymus spp. vs. Origanum
vulgare).
Gentiana
pneumonanthe with eggs of the Alcon Blue. 
Large Blue. We have two forms, one is a classic M. arion,
the other phenotypically resembling the so-called M. ligurica
(genetically surely different). They are different by their
flying period and foodplants as well (Thymus spp. vs. Origanum
vulgare).
