Callophrys chalybeitincta Sovinsky, 1905 Sovinsky's Green Hairstreak, Зеленушка стальная.
SovDistribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species' distribution range is restricted by South-western Russia, Caucasus, Transcaucasia, and North-eastern Turkey. Armenia is inhabited by nominate subspecies, which is mostly distributed in arid areas of the country. In most parts of Armenia the species occupies semi-deserts, however at the shore of Lake Sevan and at Pambak mountains it occupies dry mountain steppes. The elevation range is from 400 to 2200 m a.s.l. In most parts of the country the larval host plant is Paliurus spina-christi, but for other areas the Rubus is also known. The first instar caterpillars feed on flowers and then on seeds.
Population dynamics: The species is slightly uncommon within typical habitat. and its population trend during 2003-2013 demonstrates stability (p>0.05). The host plant of the species is a thorny bush, which aggressively occupies empty spaces. Therefore the species is not affected by habitat degradation. Moreover, since Paliurus spina-christi is one of the first plant species, which becomes restored in destroyed areas (e.g. open pit mines), the Sovinsky's Green Hairstreak colonizes those areas quite fast after degradation.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in the Global and European Red Lists, as well as in Red Book of Animals of Armenia and in Appendices of CITES and Bern Conventions. Preliminary evaluation of the species' conservation status suggests it as Least Concern. At current the distribution range of the species is partly covered by Zangezur Biosphere Complex, Gnishik Protected Landscape, Khosrov Forest State Reserve, and Lake Sevan National Park, as well as by Emerald Sites: Arevik, Gnishik, Khosrov Forest, Lake Sevan, and Jajour Pass. In addition the species' distribution is included in Prime Butterfly Areas Agarak, Meghri, Shvanidzor, Gudemnis, Ourtsadzor, and Artanish-Shorzha. Therefore, there are no specific conservation measures required for the species' protection. In the same time monitoring of the species' distribution and abundance can indicate the process of desertification in the country.