Pseudophilotes bavius (Eversmann, 1832) Bavius Blue, Azure de la sauge, Голубянка бавий, Բավիուս կապտաթիթեռ
Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species is distributed in Morocco, Algeria, Hungary, Greece, Asia Minor, southern Russia and northern Kazakhstan. In Caucasus the subspecies P. b. egea (Herrich-Schäffer, [1852]) is found, however belonging of Armenian population to the same subspecies in under question. The Bavius Blue occurs in two spots in Central and Southern Armenia, has patchy distribution and inhabits calcareous mountain steppes at the elevations between 1800 and 2200 m a.s.l. although males sometimes are found as low as 1200 m at the watering places. In Armenia the species was found in 2006 in Vayots Dzor province and in 2010 in Aragats Mountain. The host plant of the species is Salvia spp. The species gives one annual generation having butterflies on wing from late May till mid, sometimes late June.
Population dynamics: The species is rare within its typical habitat. Late finding of the Bavius Blue in Armenia along with its low density doesn't provide sufficient data for computation of the population trend, however, taking its high level of habitat specialization and specific host-plant it could be assumed that overgrazing can play a negative role in the species' survival.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in the Global and Armenian Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions, however is evaluated for the European Red Book as Least Concern. Preliminary assessment of the species' national conservation status suggest it as Data Deficient. The current distribution range is partly covered by Gnishik Protected Landscape and Gnishik Emerald Site, while the Aragats' population is not protected at all. The Bavius Blue is only presented in Gnisheek Prime Butterfly Area. The following conservation measures are suggested: (1) development and launching of species monitoring aimed at determination of its population trend along with study of threats for the species; (2) clarification of its conservation status and inclusion of the species in next edition of Red Book of Animals of Armenia; (3) development of management plan for the Gnishik Emerald Site which will take the habitat friendly grazing schemes into consideration; (4) assessment of the species' distribution area on Aragats Mountain as a Prime Butterfly Area with its further transformation into Emerald Site.