Polyommatus turcicus (Koçak, 1977)  
Turkish Blue, Голубянка турецкая, Թուրկական կապտաթիթեռ

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
​The species is distributed in Armenia, Northeast Turkey, and Nakhichevan. In Armenia the Turkish Blue was first recorded in 1999 in Vayots Dzor and Pambak Mountains, and later was found also at the Vardenis Ridge. The species inhabits calcareous grasslands at elevation range from 2000 to 2400 m a.s.l., preferring humid, meadow-like areas. The host plant of the species is Onobrychis cadmea. The species gives one generation per year and is on wing from mid June to end of July. 

Population dynamics:
The species is rather uncommon within typical habitat. During 2003-2013 it demonstrates moderate declining population trend, which is most probably resulted by overgrazing. Majority of the Turkish Blue's habitats overlap with the pasturelands, and in conditions of poor pasture management are likely to be overgrazed. Another threat comes from uncontrolled mowing of the grasslands, since planning of the mowing is not taking life-cycle of the threatened species into consideration. In addition, there is a small scale trade of the species.

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and European Red Lists, as well as in Appendices of CITES and Bern Conventions, however it was evaluated for Red Book of Animals of Armenia, receiving a status of Vulnerable (B2a). Distribution range of the species is partly covered by Gnishik Protected Landscape and the Emerald Sites Gnishik and Jajur; also the species is present in Gnisheek Prime Butterfly Area. The populations of the species at the Vardenis Mountains are not included in any of the Protected Areas. The proposed conservation measures include: (1) evaluation of all the areas of species' occurrence as Prime Butterfly Areas; (2) assessment of the areas at the Vardenis Mountains for Emerald Network; (3) development of the management plans for the Emerald Sites Gnishik and Jajur; (4) development and introduction of sustainable grazing practices, which will take existence of the endangered species into consideration; (4) development of butterfly-watching in Gnisheek PBA, based on using the support of surrounding rural communities; (5) development of a public awareness campaigns aimed at raising understanding of the link between healthy habitat inhabited by large number of rare butterflies and the income from nature tourism.

Photo: A. Danchenko

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