Polyommatus huberti (Carbonell, 1993)  
Hubert's Anomalous Blue, Голубянка Хуберта, Հուբերտի կապտաթիթեռ

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species is distributed in Armenia and Turkey. Is monotypic. In Armenia the species is distributed in Southern and South-eastern regions, where inhabits calcareous mountain steppes at elevations between 1500 and 2200 m a.s.l. The larval host plants are two species of Astragalus: A. brachycarpus and A. prilipkoanus. The flight period is from mid June to mid August depending on elevation.

Population dynamics:
The species is slightly uncommon within typical habitat, but the population trend during 2003-2013 suggests moderate decline, which is most probably caused by overgrazing, which provokes removal of the host plants and in general changes of the plant species compositions. The isolated population in Meghri Mountains appears to be safer, due to difficult accessibility of the area for the livestock and existing grazing alternatives in closer proximity of the villages. There is a small scale trade for the species in Armenia.

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and European Red Lists, however was evaluated for the Red Book of Animals of Armenia as Endangered (B1a+B2a). Also the species is not included in CITES and Bern Conventions. Distribution range of the species is covered by Khosrov Forest State Reserve and Gnishik Protected Landscape, as well as by Emerald Sites Khosrov and Gnishik. Also the species is presented in Gnisheek and Ourtsadzor Prime Butterfly Areas; very unusual phenotype of the species inhabits potential PBA Pkhrout. The proposed conservation measures include: (1) development and adoption of more habitat-friendly livestock grazing scheme; (2) development of management plan for Gnishik Protected Landscape, and (3) assessment of Pkhrout as Prime Butterfly Area and initiation of its inclusion into existing networks of National Protected Areas and Emerald Sites.
Изображение
Photo: A. Danchenko