This year the Lithuanian Entomological Society invites citizens to help find a rare butterfly, the Alcon blue. It is a great opportunity for every nature lover to contribute to real scientific research.
The Alcon blue (Phengaris alcon) has been chosen as the subject of the Insect of the Year 2026 campaign. It is a rare and protected species of butterfly belonging to the blues family (Lycaenidae). It is one of the more interesting European butterfly species because of its complex life cycle.
In Lithuania, Alcon blues are distributed locally: they develop on the cross gentian (Gentiana cruciata) and are associated with dry meadows. Although this plant grows almost throughout the country, the butterfly itself is found only in isolated, scattered sites.
How can you contribute? It is very simple: when you go out into nature, look for Alcon blues in dry meadows and on slopes. If you spot one, photograph it and register the observation on the iNaturalist platform. Each of us can help scientists better understand the distribution of this rare species in Lithuania and take appropriate protection measures.
This is a great example of how citizen science works in practice: without special knowledge or equipment, with just a phone in your hand, you can contribute directly to the conservation of biodiversity.
Links: You will find more information about the Alcon blue on the Lithuanian Entomological Society website, and you can register observations on the iNaturalist platform.
Photo: Oscabla / Unsplash