About Glaucopsyche melanops (Boisduval, 1829)
This species, known scientifically as Glaucopsyche melanops (Boisduval, 1829), is also referenced as L. melanops Bdv. (= saportae Hbn.) in Seitz's description. The upper side of its wings is similar to the smallest varieties of Glaucopsyche cyllarus. However, the ocelli on the underside of its forewing are enlarged, usually much more so than shown in the referenced figure. The row of ocelli is strongly curved, and the ocelli gradually increase in size from the first to the fifth; if a sixth ocellus is present, it is smaller again. In South-West Europe, two aberrations are recorded: ab. elongata Courv. (= marchandii Gerh.) has elongated ocelli, while ab. marchandii Bdv. has no ocelli on the underside of the wings. In North Africa, there is a considerably larger form called algirica Ruhl-Heyne, which has a broader black margin on the forewing and a somewhat darker underside. The larva is pale green with thin dark markings; it has a brownish dorsal stripe and a white side-line, with dark green pencilling between these two lines. The larva's head is black. It develops until June on Dorycynium. The pupa is pale brown, with black dots on its sides. Adults emerge in spring, and the species is usually frequent in all locations where it occurs.
