Male and female above dull dark brown, without metallic blue or aeneous gloss; the discocellular spot of the forewing and the black veins mostly distinctly contrasting.

In South-East Europe, from Hungary and Galicia through the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor to Mesopotamia; also in Spain.

More widely distributed than admetus, being found in the Alps, South France, in eastern Europe, Asia Minor, Persia and Turkestan.

The butterflies are on the wing in June and July and fly on slopes with sparse vegetation, settling particularly on lavender.

[4] Named in the Classical tradition.In Greek mythology Admetus of Pherae was a friend of Hercules.