About Plebicula escheri (Hübner)
This species, originally described as Lycaena escheri Hübner (referenced as L. escheri Hbn. in Seitz, matching plate 81a and 81b), is now known as Plebicula escheri (Hübner). Males and females are similar above to Plebicula icarus, but are much larger. Their underside has more prominent spotting and a greater number of ocelli, but the forewing underside always lacks basal ocelli. The underside ground colour is more shaded with grey in males, and may sometimes darken to chocolate-brown in females. Additionally, the discal row of ocelli on the hindwing is positioned more proximally, standing closer to the discocellular spot than it is in P. icarus. The species is distributed in Southern Europe, ranging from Spain to the Balkan Peninsula, and extends north into the Alps. Females with a strong blue dusting on the upperside are classified as the aberration subapennina Tur. The form dalmatica Spey., matching plate 81b, originates from Dalmatia. Males of this form are lighter blue, more similar in colour to P. hylas than to P. icarus. The black margin, which is very narrow in the nominal escheri form, is broader in dalmatica, and the upperside of the hindwing bears very faint traces of dark spots along the margin. When these spots are particularly distinct, the specimens are classified as the aberration punctulata Wheel. The egg of Plebicula escheri has the typical flattened shape of related species, is pure white, and has small projections at the corners of the meshes of its fine surface network. Larvae develop until April, feeding on Astragalus and Plantago. Adult butterflies begin flight at the end of June. They occur in mountain valleys, found singly but are not uncommon. Their flight is rather clumsy, and they frequent the beds of brooks in particular. The forewing length of adults is 17–19 mm.
