Polyommatus damonides (Staudinger, 1899) 
Damonides Blue, Голубянка дамонидес, Դամոնիդես կապտաթիթեռ.

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
It is endemic of southern part of the Zangezur Mountains where is known from two populations. One population inhabits southern part of Syunik province in Armenia, and another is located in southern region of Nakhichevan. The species inhabits semi-desert zone. The host plant is not confirmed yet. In Armenia the species inhabits narrow belt from 900 to 1200 m a.s.l., however the boundaries of its range are not clarified yet. Flight period lasts from late May to late June. 

Population dynamics:
For a long period of time the species was considered extinct from Armenia, since the last records have been dated by 1973, and the majority of its habitat was destroyed by open pit mine. However in 2010 it was rediscovered at a patch of habitat that left at foothills of southwestern slopes of Zangezur Mountains. The data is obviously not sufficient for calculation of trend, however it can be stated that its number is fairly low even at the typical habitat. Expansion of open pit remains the major threat that can ultimately destroy the species' habitat and lead to its local extinction. Also grazing of goats and sheep has some influence on the habitat by possible removing of the species host-plant.

Conservation measures: 
The species has not been evaluated for IUCN Red List yet, however is included in Red Book of Animals of Armenia as Critically Endangered CR B1ab(i,ii,iii)+B2b(i,ii,iii). It is not listed in CITES as well as in Bern Convention. Two most important conservation steps are: detaining of distribution range of the species, inclusion of its distribution area into boundaries of Zangezur Biosphere Complex, and evaluation of the species for IUCN Red List. The described measures It will allow further development of management plan for the habitat of the species. 

Photo: B. Jost