Scarce Large Blue

L. euphemus Hbn. (= diomedes Rott.) (83 a), Male above almost entirely blue, but not shining; the margins, the discocellular spot of the forewing and commonly some small spots on the disc black; female much blacker, often a little paler on the disc, this lighter area bearing rows of black spots. Underside with very numerous ocelli, which are rarely as large and conspicuous as in our figure of the underside. The species is at once distinguished from the very similar arion by the underside not bearing an ocellus in the cell proximally to the discocellular spot. Throughout Europe (with the exception of England) and the adjacent districts of Asia, from North Germany and Russia to Italy, and from Paris to Dauria. — Near the North- Western boundary there occur especially small individuals (of the size of icarus), which have but few ocelli; these are ab. paula Schultz. In ab. obsoleta Gillm. the ocelli of the hindwing are entirely absent or almost, while in ab. striata Gillm. they are modified into streaks. — obscurata Stgr. (83 b) is a strongly darkened form from Central Asia (also already in the Ural) — euphemia Stgr. (83 b) is much larger than European specimens, with a broad block border which sharply contrasts with the light blue; from Amurland. North China and Corea. — kazamoto Druce [now species Phengaris kazamoto (H. …