Chequered Blue
Scolitantides orion
Scolitantides orion, the chequered blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Europe, Russia and east across the Palearctic to Japan.
38
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scolitantides_orion
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Lycaenidae
Genus
Scolitantides
Chequered Blue belongs to the family Lycaenidae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Scolitantides orion, the chequered blue, is a species of butterfly in the family Lycaenidae. It is found in Europe, Russia and east across the Palearctic to Japan.
The Chequered Blue faces significant threats from habitat loss and degradation due to agricultural intensification, urbanization, and changes in traditional land management practices across its European range. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants and affecting the delicate ecological relationships this specialized butterfly depends upon.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits dry, calcareous grasslands, rocky slopes, and scrubland areas typically between 500-2000m elevation, particularly where its host plants in the genus Sedum are abundant. The species requires warm, south-facing slopes with sparse vegetation and exposed rock surfaces in mountainous regions of Europe.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urbanization and infrastructure development
Abandonment of traditional grazing practices
Climate change impacts on host plant availability
Fragmentation of suitable habitat patches
Found in 38 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Chequered Blue (Scolitantides orion). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/chequered-blue