A small blue-winged beetle with a dull violet-blue upper side in the male, and a wingspan of 27–32 millimetres. It flies only for a couple of weeks at the end of May and the beginning of June in open, basic rock fields where the host plant, lovage, grows. In Sweden, it is known from a few fragmented locations.
Status in this countryThreatened in SwedenEN (Endangered)
The flight time is very short, approximately two weeks, from mid or late May into June.
Habitat
Open base rock outcrops and dry rock outcrops with lovage.
Identifying features
Chequered blue is one of our smallest blue wing moths, with a wingspan of 27–32 millimetres. The wings on top are a matte violet blue with a narrow black edge, while the underside is grey-brown with black spots and a red-yellow band along the edge. The underside pattern distinguishes it from other Swedish blue wing moths.
Similar species
No similar species are described in the sources consulted.
Distribution
The species has a few, strongly fragmented occurrences in Sweden.
Biology
The larvae feed on lovage, and the pupa overwinters.
