Cyaniris bellis (Freyer, [1842]) Greek Mazarine Blue, L'Asure de la vulneraire, Голубянка беллис, Բելլիս կապտաթիթեռ
Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species distributed in Southern Europe, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Iran and Northern Africa. Armenia is inhabited by C. b. antiochena (Lederer, 1861), which occurs in almost entire country occupying woodlands, and meadows at the elevation range between 1000 and 2400 m a.s.l. The Greek Mazarine Blue uses several Legumes as the host plants, which include Trifolium pratense, Melilotus officinalis, Lotus corniculatus, and some others. The species is on wing from late May till early July, depending on elevation, having one generation per year.
Population dynamics: The species is slightly uncommon within typical habitat, and shows moderate population decline during 2003-2013 (p<0.01), which most probably can be justified by overgrazing and uncontrolled mowing in most of its distribution range.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in the Global and Armenian Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions, however was assessed for European Red Book as Least Concern. Preliminary assessment of its national conservation status suggests it as Near Threatened. At current the species range is partly covered by number of protected areas, Emerald Sites and Prime Butterfly Areas, however majority of its area is located in pasture-lands or forestry enterprises. Among proposed conservation measures, it is necessary: (1) to include the species into next edition of Red Book of Animals of Armenia; (2) to develop and introduce habitat friendly grazing and mowing schemes; (3) to develop management plans for the existing Emerald Sites and to include such sustainable grazing and mowing practices there.