Despite its size, this species is a strong flier and migrates north annually in the summer, occasionally reaching southern England. It rarely rests with its wings open and in my experience it can also be restless. It has a rather unique pattern on its underside and distinctive ‘tails’ on it hindwing. It is very much a generalist and readily enters urban areas.
Distribution: Resident in southern Europe but migrates north annually, regularly reaching northern Germany and southern Britain.
Flight Period: All months bar December and January in the southern Mediterranean, in several broods. Founds more frequently in summer and autumn in central Europe.
Habitat: Flower-rich places like gardens, brownfield sites, scrub and meadows at a wide range of altitudes, although commoner at lower altitudes.
Foodplants: Members of the pea family (Fabaceae).
Nectar Sources: Favours thistles (Cirsium), Lantana, Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius), sainfoins (Onobrychis), lavenders (Lavandula), thymes (Thymus).
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- Long-tailed Blue, Sierra de Almijara, Spain, July 2020
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- Long-tailed Blue, Nerja, Spain, July 2020
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- Long-tailed Blue, Palas de Rei, Spain, June 2017
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- Long-tailed Blue, Sierra de Almijara, Spain, July 2020
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- Long-tailed Blue, Tavira, Portugal, July 2016
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- Long-tailed Blue, Palas de Rei, Spain, June 2017
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- Tangier Pea, Lathyrus tingitanus
