Northern Brown Argus
Aricia artaxerxes
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Northern Brown Argus faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat fragmentation and loss of traditional grassland management practices. Climate change poses an additional threat as warming temperatures push suitable habitat further north and to higher elevations, while the species' specialized relationship with its host plants makes it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes. Agricultural intensification and abandonment of low-intensity grazing have reduced the availability of the flower-rich grasslands essential for both the butterfly and its caterpillar food plants.
Habitat
The Northern Brown Argus inhabits calcareous grasslands, chalk downs, limestone pavements, and coastal dunes where its larval host plants, particularly Common Rock-rose and Stork's-bill, are abundant. It requires flower-rich grasslands maintained by traditional low-intensity grazing that creates the mosaic of short turf and longer grass patches essential for both feeding and breeding.
Other threatened species in Lycaenidae
Threatened in Åland Islands
Frequently asked questions
Why is Northern Brown Argus classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Northern Brown Argus live?
What are the main threats to Northern Brown Argus?
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