Small

Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina argiolus)

about

The Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus) is small blue butterfly that may be seen from early spring, often in and around habitat where established Ivy (Hedra helix) and Holly (Ilex aquifolium) are growing in a sunny sheltered position.

where

The Holly blue may be found in this type of habitat in hedgerows, woodland, urban gardens and parks across Southern England, Wales and Southern Ireland.

Holly Blue butterflies lay two broods of eggs the first in Holly (Ilex aquifolium) April – May, and the second brood on Common Ivy (Hedera helix) August – September.

Holly Blue Butterfly- Female-with wings open

Holly Blue Butterfly (Celastrina-argiolus) on Holly

Upper wings are violet blue and are only occasionally seen, while the butterfly is nectaring or resting, although after periods of cloud cover or rain, they may be seen sunbathing for brief periods, with wings open taking full advantage first available warm sun light.

Information

Wingspan– approx 30mm.
Adult Nectar Plants :- Holly (Ilex aquifolium), Ivy (Hedera helix), Gorses (Ulex spp.), Snowberry bush (Symphoricarpos spp), Bramble Flowers (Rubus spp.), Hemp Agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), Common Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea)
Photographed– above 23rd May 2010, Left 5th August
Location – My Garden.

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

Lively and brightly coloured, the Small Copper Butterfly can be found throughout the UK, apart from the far north of Scotland.The Small Copper Butterfly can be seen flying from May-September, they are usually found in open grassy areas such as, Meadows, Waste ground, Heathland and Woodland Rides, where they enjoy basking in warm sunshine, often on the heads of wildflowers or a bare patch of earth.

Upper-wings are Bright Copper or orange with black spotted markings with a dark brown fringe on the fore-wings .

Under-wings are similar to upper-wings but light brown instead of dark brown.

Small Copper Butterfly (Lycaena phlaeas)

Small Copper Butterfly

Information

Family Group: Lycaenidae – Blues.
Habitat: Meadows, Waste ground, Heathland and Woodland Rides.
On the wing: May-September
Wingspan: approx 25mm.
Larvae feed on: Common Sorrel.
Photographed: 17th July 2010.
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes NNR.

Small Blue Butterfly (Cupido minimus)

Description

The smallest of all the British butterflies the small blue is sometimes known as the “Bedford Blue” or “Little blue” the under-side of the wings are silver gray with black spots, similar to that of the Holly Blue butterfly. The upper-side of both the male and female is a sooty brown although the male has a blue sheen.

Where

Locally Distributed throughout England although mainly found in the Central and Southern Counties

Habitat

Sheltered warm sunny grassy slopes or in hollows and often on chalk hills in places where kidney vetch grows in abundance

Small blue butterfly showing upper-wings

Small Blue © Urban Butterfly Garden 2010-2016

Small Blue Butterfly on grass stem, Tottenhoe Knowls, Bedfordshire

Small Blue (Cupido minimus)

Information

Name: Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
Family group:Blues – Lycaenidae.
When: Early May – late June
Size around: 25 mm
Larval Food Plant: solely kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)
Adult Nectar Plant: Bird’s-foot trifoil, Horseshoe Vetch, kidney Vetch
Population Status: stable
Photographed: 27th May 2012, Tottenhoe knowls

Brown Argus Butterfly (Aricia agestis)

Found widely across Southern and Central England and Wales, the Brown Argus is a small butterfly, most often found on chalk or limestone grassland, where the common rock-rose, a wildflower on which the caterpillar feeds is present.

Brown Argus butterflies are found in small groups or colonies, and emerge from two broods each season, the first brood emerging early May-June, and the second in late July. Although appearing to be quite active during warm sunny weather each individual very rarely strays above a few meters from where it first emerged.

Brown Argus Butterfly (Aricia agestis) - May - Dunstable Downs

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis) – Dunstable Downs – 2012

Quick Info

Family Group: Lycaenidae.
Subfamily: Lycaeninae.
Status: UK resident
Habitat: Grassy meadows and downs, tracks, old quarries.
Wingspan: around 25mm.
Larvae feed on: Common Rock-rose, Common stork’s-bill.
Photographed: Top – 2nd June Barnack 2011 – Left – 27th May 2012 Dunstable Downs – Right- Bloody Oaks Quarry
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes.

Brown Argus (Aricia agestis)

The upper-wings are mostly brown with orange crescents and white fringe on the outer margins of the fore and hind-wings.

The undersides of the wings at a glance are similar in colour and patten to the common blue, brownish grey with black spots and orange crescents around the outer margins, although there are quite obvious differences once they are pointed out.

The Brown Argus despite it’s colour and name is part of the Lycaenidae Group of butterflies, more commonly known as “Blues”. In Britain this group of species includes:- the “Common Blue”, “Large Blue”, “Silver-Studded Blue”, and the smallest of all British butterflies the “Small Blue”, to name but a few.

Brown Argus butterflies male and female mating

Brown Argus male and female