Plebejus hespericus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	ARTHROPODA	INSECTA	LEPIDOPTERA	LYCAENIDAE

Scientific Name:

Plebejus hespericus

Species Authority:

(Rambur, 1839)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Spanish Zephyr Blue

Synonym/s:

Plebejus hesperica (Rambur, 1842)

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Least Concern ver 3.1

Year Published:

2010

Assessor/s:

van Swaay, C., Wynhoff, I., Verovnik, R., Wiemers, M., López Munguira, M., Maes, D., Sasic, M., Verstrael, T., Warren, M. & Settele, J.

Reviewer/s:

Lewis, O. (Butterfly RLA) & Cuttelod, A. (IUCN Red List Unit)

Contributor/s:

Justification:
This species is listed as Least Concern, since it has not been declining by more than 25% in the last ten years, its European extent of occurrence (EOO) is larger than 20,000km² and its population size is probably larger than 10,000 adult individuals.

History:

2000

–

Vulnerable

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Occurs in isolated populations in several mountainous areas in south and central Spain: near Granada (Sierra Nevada, S. de Alfacar), near Teruel (S. de Albarracin), near Madrid and Toledo. Found at altitudes from 400-1,400 m. This is a European endemic species.
Countries:	Native: Spain
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	A local species, restricted to (semi-) natural areas. Declines in distribution or population size of 6-30% have been reported from Spain (data provided by the national partners of Butterfly Conservation Europe).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	This Blue mostly occurs on dry grassland, waste ground and scrub. The caterpillars feed on the milk-vetches Astragalus alopecurioides and A. turolensis and possibly other Astragalus species. The milk-vetches only occur very locally which explains the local occurrence of this butterfly. The female deposits the eggs on the leaves of the foodplant where the caterpillars feed. Hibernation takes place in the early larval instars. It has one generation a year and both the caterpillars and pupae are attended by ants of species from several genera, such as Formica, Plagiolepis, Camponotus and Crematogaster. When the caterpillars are ready for pupation, they often search for a safe place in the entrance of an ant nest. Habitats: dry calcareous grasslands and steppes (50%), fallow land, waste places (50%).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

This Blue mostly occurs on dry grassland, waste ground and scrub. The caterpillars feed on the milk-vetches Astragalus alopecurioides and A. turolensis and possibly other Astragalus species. The milk-vetches only occur very locally which explains the local occurrence of this butterfly. The female deposits the eggs on the leaves of the foodplant where the caterpillars feed. Hibernation takes place in the early larval instars. It has one generation a year and both the caterpillars and pupae are attended by ants of species from several genera, such as Formica, Plagiolepis, Camponotus and Crematogaster. When the caterpillars are ready for pupation, they often search for a safe place in the entrance of an ant nest. Habitats: dry calcareous grasslands and steppes (50%), fallow land, waste places (50%).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Although this species shows a decline in a part of its European range, it is not believed to face major threats at the European level.

Major Threat(s):

Although this species shows a decline in a part of its European range, it is not believed to face major threats at the European level.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species occurs in a number of protected areas across its range. No specific conservation actions are needed at a European level, but in countries where the species is in decline important habitats should be protected and managed. The effects of conservation actions should be monitored by a Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

Conservation Actions:

This species occurs in a number of protected areas across its range. No specific conservation actions are needed at a European level, but in countries where the species is in decline important habitats should be protected and managed. The effects of conservation actions should be monitored by a Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

Citation:	van Swaay, C., Wynhoff, I., Verovnik, R., Wiemers, M., López Munguira, M., Maes, D., Sasic, M., Verstrael, T., Warren, M. & Settele, J. 2010. Plebejus hespericus. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 21 May 2013.
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