An uncommon species, which I saw for the first time ever in 2009. It is one of a family of very similar so-called anomalous blues that occur in Europe, although ripartii is the only one to occur in France, resolving any question of ID which seems to be a major problem in other areas of southern Europe where more than one anomalous blue occurs. Its name is rather ridiculous in that the anomalous element of the name refers to the fact that that the male uppersides are brown not blue!

It is a species of intermediate altitude, Lafranchis giving its range as 400-1400m. Damon is often found much higher than that, which could also be a clue to identification.

It could only really be confused in France with the Damon Blue (A. damon) which has a similar underside although the upperside of the male damon is bright blue and could not be confused in flight. The female damon has a brown upperside and therefore could be confused with ripartii. I have noted what I believe to be the key differences on the damon page.

In the new European taxonomy, this species now has the scientific name Polyommatus ripartii.

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I am guessing that 17001 is a male based on the slightly less rounded shape of the hindwing at the anal angle, and the fact that I saw it at what was apparently the start of the emergence at a site I visit regularly (males of most species tend to emerge about a week before the females, true for most species). Flimsy evidence, though.

another individual from the same location as 17001, slightly deeper brown and with slightly more prominent vestigial marginal markings.

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