Callophrys rubi (Linnaeus, 1758) Green Hairstreak, Gruner Zipfelfalter, Thecle de la ronce, Зеленушка малинная
Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species is found in most of Europe, North Africa, Russia, Asia Minor, Siberia, Amurland, Baluchistan and Chitral. It is still widespread across most of the UK, although many colonies have been lost in recent years. In Mediterranean countries it is quite localized and it is usually found near the coasts. The species grows on wide variety of host plants: Rubus idaeus, Vicia cracca, Trifolium medium, Calluna vulgaris. Armenia is inhabited by nominate subspecies. There are few specimens known from Armenia, and the only known location of the species in Armenia is Khosrov Forest State Reserve. Butterflies are on wing from end of April until beginning of June.
Population dynamics: The data on the species in Armenia is quite scarce, and the species can be considered as very rare within a typical habitat. However the lack of data on the species doesn't allow computation of its population trend, and scarce information about Green Hairstreak's biology in Armenia doesn't let understanding of current or potential threats to the species.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in the Global and National Red Lists, however it was assessed for Red Book on Butterflies of Europe receiving a status of Least Concern. The species is not included in the Appendices of CITES and Bern Conventions. Preliminary assessment of Green Hairstreak's conservation status suggests it as Data Deficient. Although the only distribution site is covered by Khosrov Forest State Reserve and therefore is highly protected, but the other parts of its distribution range remain unknown. Therefore the most important conservation measure is study of the species' distribution, abundance, biological peculiarities, and threats in Armenia.