Aricia eumedon Esper, 1780 Geranium argus, Storchschnabel-Blauling oder Schwarzbraune Blauling, Argus de la sanguinaire, Голубянка эвмедон, Էումեդոն կապտաթիթեռը
Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species is widely distributed in temperate Eurasia. In Armenia the nominate subspecies occurs and occupies mountain meadows at the elevations from about 1800 to 2700 m a.s.l. The species uses variety of Geranium spp, as a host plant. During development the larvae are taken care by ants Lasius spp. The Geranium Argus gives one generation per year having butterflies on wing from early July till mid August depending on elevation.
Population dynamics: The species is slightly uncommon within typical habitat, and its population trend shows moderate decline (p<0.05), which is probably result of overgrazing and uncontrolled mowing in the mountain meadows, such activities probably not only remove the host plants but also destroy the ants' nests.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in the Global and Armenian Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions; however it was evaluated for the European Red Book as Least Concern. Preliminary Assessment of its national conservation status suggests it as Near Threatened. The current distribution of Geranium Argus is partly covered by several Protected Areas and Emerald Sites. Also the species is presented in Lichk, Kajaran, and Artanish-Shorzha Prime Butterfly Areas. For protection of the species, it is necessary (1) to develop and introduce a habitat friendly grazing and mowing schemes; (2) to evaluate the species for the next edition of Red Book of Armenia; (3) to develop management plans for the existing Emerald Sites, and to incorporate the new pasture management schemes; (4) to identify more Prime Butterfly Areas, where the species occurs and to promote those.