Argiades is very similar to Provencal Short-tailed Blue (E. alcetas), the differences being outlined on the alcetas page.

It seemed to me that a few years ago, argiades was not uncommon especially in western France, although rarely in good numbers, and that alcetas was encountered only occasionally in the south. However, in the last few years, alcetas seems to have become more common and argiades quite uncommon.

Argiades range, according to Lafranchis is virtually the whole of France, but I have never seen it in the south-east départements of Var, the Alpes-Maritimes or the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, hence the absence of any decent photos.

In the new European taxonomy, this species now has the scientific name Cupido argiades.

observations

showing the slightly thicker black borders, and slight uph marginal black spotting typical of argiades, although this old photo has come out much deeper blue than it appears in real life.

a quick snap of this male, showing the quite pronounced orange in the marginal unh lunules in s1c and s2. The other marginal markings are quite pronounced, especially the unf marginal markings.