Melanops is a very early season species, emerging in early April and largely disappeared by the end of the month. Before 2009, I had seen melanops only a few times, although in 2009, 2010 and 2011 it did turn up at a number of localities. It is allegedly quite common, although I would not entirely agree with that, certainly compared to the ubiquitous Green-underside Blue (G. alexis).

Melanops is quite similar to alexis, the principal differences discussed on the alexis page. The female melanops underside can be rather browner than alexis, and with a rather scruffy appearance.

observations

an average amount of blue scaling, although my experience of female melanops is limited.

I am assuming this is a male, although the darker, greener ground colour strongly suggests female.

a mating pair, the greener female above. The marginal marks, especially of the male, are quite pronounced.

the female of the above pair, after parting naturally.

this female with a distended unf black spot in s2 was only the second I had ever seen, but was considerably larger than the first, and larger than indicated in the books. The marginal marks clearly indicate melanops.