Adonis Blue Butterflies. The Adonis blue (Lysandra bellargus, also known as Polyommatus bellargus) is a butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Palearctic ecozone (Western Europe, Central Europe, South Europe, South Russia, Iraq, Iran, Caucasus, Transcaucasus, Turkey).
It may be found in chalk downland, in warm sheltered spots, flying low over vegetation, seeking females that are rich chocolate brown in color. The male has brilliantly-colored wings that give it its name.
The Adonis blue is found across Europe from Eastern and Central Europe across to southeast England and the Iberian Peninsula.
The preferred habitat of the Adonis blue is calcareous grasslands with hot and dry conditions. This is because the larva feeds on horseshoe vetch (Hippocrepis comosa) which is largely restricted to these habitats. This plant flourishes on sheep-grazed pastures and disappears after a few years when cattle graze. Sometimes human-created landforms provide refuges for the plant and the butterfly; an example of this is on Martin Down in Dorset, where horseshoe vetch only occurs on ancient earthworks with thin calcareous soils. Reference: Wikipedia
Albert Durer Lucas (British, 1828-1918) ‘Fire-leaved heath and heather, purple and white, with Adonis blue butterfly’ signed and dated ‘A.D.Lucas, Sept 1911’ (lower right), oil on panel, unframed 25.5 x 20.5cm (10 1/16 x 8 1/16in).
Sold for £ 552 inc. premium at Bonham’s in 2007
A VIENNA TRANSPARENT-ENAMELLED BEAKER (RANFTBECHER) 19TH CENTURY Decorated in the manner of Anton Kothgasser with a blue Adonis butterfly below the inscription So bin ich nicht. in gilding, above a gilt diaper-pattern band reserved on a amber-stained ground, on a cog-wheel cut foot and star-cut amber-stained base, within gilt rim (small chip to rim, slight rubbing to gilding) 4 3/8 in. (11 cm.) high
Sold for GBP 1,750 at Christie’s in 2008
