A very high altitude species that I had never seen in France prior to 2010, and only saw for the first time in 2007 at one location in Switzerland. The male is a gleaming blue with marked black borders on both wings (although somewhat wider on 8321 than is shown in T&L), although the key to this species is the unh round white marks without any black spots inside (clearly illustrated in 13370 and 27373), making this species quite unmistakeable. It is perhaps slight smaller than an average Common Blue.

In the new European taxonomy, this species now has the scientific name Plebejus orbitulus.

observations

this male clearly shows the deep blue, especially toward the hindwing margins. The strong black borders of even width and the clear white fringes make it relatively easy to identify.

this female shows the plain brown upperside, becoming quite black-brown near the margins, especially on the hindwing.

a female, plain dark brown but with a spattering of blue scales in the basal area of the forewing, and, strangely, around the cell spot.

the underside of 13379. the characteristic unh "empty" markings are clearly shown.