Plebejus philbyi Graves 1925

Uncommon

Size: 28-34 mm. Similar to Polyommatus icarus, but the underside of the forewing lacks the two black basal spots. The male is violet-blue to dark blue;while the female is brown with variable degrees of blue. In Egypt, similar to Sinai Baton Blue but larger in size and the orange spots exist on the underside of both wings.

Sinai. AOO = 60 km2. EOO = 17,500 km2. 2 locations.

Near-endemic (Levant)

Local on desert mountain hillsides. Larvae hibernate among roots, cannibalistic in some years when food is scarce.

Vulnerable (D2)

One generation per year.

16 records. Latest in 2002 (South Sinai)

Resident

Now raised to full species from the subspecies of Plebejus pylaon in Larsen (1990)

April-May

Host-plants: Astragalus species, especially A. spinosus (Leguminosae).