Chilades trochilus (Freyer, [1845])
Grass Jewel, L'Azure de l'heliotrope, Голубянка трокил, Տրոխիլուս կապտաթիթեռ

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species is distributed in Africa, Arabia, southern Europe, Southern Transcaucasia, India and southern Asia. Armenia, which is located at one of the northern borders of the Grass Jewel's distribution range is inhabited by nominate subspecies, which is distributed in couple of spots of southernmost region of the country and inhabits semi-deserts and juniper woodlands from 800 to 1100 m a.s.l. The host plant in Armenia is not identified, however throughout the species' range the Indigofera, Heliotropium, and Andrachne have been recorded. Most probably it uses several host plants in Armenia as well since from one side the species is known as carpophagous and larvae feed on flowers and seeds, and from another side it gives several generations per year flying from mid May till early October. 

Population dynamics:
The species is rare within a typical habitat, however the most issue is the low determination rate, because the Grass Jewel is barely noticeable due to extremely small size. Therefore the data for calculation of the population trend is insufficient. It is supposed that the possible threats for the species could be overgrazing and habitat transformation, however those assumptions require further study.  

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and National Red Lists, but is included in Red Book of Butterflies of Europe as Least Concern. Preliminary assessment of the Grass Jewel's conservation status suggests it as Data Deficient. Although some parts of its distribution range are covered by Zangezur Biosphere Complex and Zangezur Emerald Site, as well as by Shvanidzor Prime Butterfly Area, the biological peculiarities of the species are steal unknown as well as the current and potential threats. Therefore, as a first step of the conservation measures it is suggested to study the number, biology and ecology of the species, and assessment of its National Conservation Status.

Photo: Z. Cebeci