The underside of this species is similar to some of the anomalous blues, with which it may share parts of its range. The upperside of the male however is marked with a striking pale sky-blue and broad brown margins, making it distinctive. The female usually has bolder black underside spots and lacks the faint brown marginal underside spots when compared to the anomalous blues. It is classed as Near Threatened in Europe.

Distribution: Found in the hills of northern Spain and Montes Universales, Pyrenees, Cevennes in France, Alps of Italy and Switzerland, Apennines in central Italy. In the Balkans; found from south Croatia, SW Bosnia, SW Serbia, North Macedonia, Albania and N. Greece. Also found in S and C Germany, W Czech Republic, S Poland, C Hungary, E Austria, SE Lativia and NW Estonia. Scattered and sporadic but can be locally numerous.

Flight Period: Flies in a single generation between late June – early September, peaking in mid-July and early August.

Habitat: Found in dry woodland clearings, field margins, scrub and subalpine meadows, generally between 1000-2300m.

Foodplants: Various sainfoins (Onobrychis).

Nectar Sources: Visits flowers such as sainfoins (Onobrychis), thistles (Cirsium, Carduus), knapweeds (Centaurea), houseleeks (Sempervivum) and others. Males will also take nutrients from damp soils.