Satyrium ledereri (Boisduval, 1848)
Orange banded Hairstreak, Хвостатка Ледерера

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species distributed in Transcaucasia, Asia Minor, Anatolia, Palestine, and Samos, and is monotypic throughout the range. Larva feeds on Atraphaxis daghestanica and A.spinosa. In Armenia the species inhabits dry zone of South-western, Southern, and South-eastern parts of the country, occupying various semi-desert, juniper woodland, and dry mountain steppe habitats in the range of 400 to 1200 m a.s.l. (in some specific sites - up to 1400 m a.s.l.) The butterflies are on wing from mid April (in South-eastern Armenia) until late May (in Southern Armenia at higher elevation) in single generation. While South-eastern population is mostly equipped with the "tails" on hindwing, the populations of Southern Armenia lack those.

Population dynamics:
The species is rather uncommon within a typical habitat. The imago are usually associated with the larval host plants but often feed on surrounding flowers. It appears that population trend of the species is relatively stable, with some tendency of expansion of its distribution range towards higher elevation. The Atraphaxis sp. is a very resistant bush species which can follow process of vertical desertification and occupy new areas. Probably one of the results of such expansion could be observed in vicinity of Vardanidzor village in South-eastern Armenia, where the species can be found even in aridized areas of the mixed juniper-oak woodland.  

Conservation measures: 
The species has not been evaluated for IUCN Red List, European Red List of Butterflies, as well as for Red Book of Animals of Armenia; it is also not included in CITES due to lack of trade interest, and in the Appendices of Bern Convention. Our preliminary evaluation of the species for the National Red List concludes its conservation status as Least Concern. The larval host plant is well protected against of grazing (although in some areas domestic goats are feeding on Atraphaxis sp.), and one of possible threats can come from mass poisoning or complete destruction of its habitat. At current there is no information about dependence of abundance of the species on nectar plants distribution and density. The species however can serve as good indicator of aridization of woodland and forest habitats, therefore its continuous monitoring under BMS is of ecosystem level importance. Also it is worth to know its value for butterfly-watchers, which can play certain role in development of this branch of nature tourism in some Prime Butterfly Areas. At current the species can be observed in Meghri, Agarak, and Shvanidzor PBAs. 

Photo: C.R. Pape

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