Lycaenidae

Chalkhill Blue Butterfly (Lysandra coridon)

Found mainly in the South East of England, on chalk or limestone (calcareous) grassland or downs, where the wild flower “Horseshoe Vetch” is growing in abundance, a native plant essential to the life cycle of the Chalkhill Blue.

Emerging Mid July to late August, the adult Butterflies may be seen on the wing in warm sunshine, in search of females or briefly resting to nectar on wild flowers. During periods of cool or overcast weather, they will often rest-up on or near the top of knapweed, grasses or other tall plant stems.

Paired Chalkhill Blues

Quick Info

Family Group: Lycaenidae.
Subgroup: Lycaeninae.
Wingspan: around 40mm
Caterpillars feed on: Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa).
Adult Nectar Plant: Birds-Foot Trefoil, Knapweed and others.
Photographed: 16th, 18th, 20 July
Location: Barnack Hills and Holes Nature Reserve.

Chalkhill Blue Butterfly (Lysandra coridon) Male on plant stem Barnack hills and holes

Chalkhill Blue Butterfly (Lysandra coridon) Male resting on plant stem

The male has blue upper-wings with white fringes, the female is brown with orange spots. The under-wings are grey to mid brown with black spots.

The Chalkhill Blue is part of the Lycaenidae Group of butterflies, in British Isles this group of species includes:- the “Common Blue”, “Large Blue”, “Green Hairstreak”, and the smallest British butterfly the “Small Blue”, to name but a few.

Chalkhill Blue Butterfly- Female - on grass stem wing open Barnack Hills and Holes

Chalkhill Blue (Lysandra coridon) – Female on grass stem

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.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus)

Widespread in mainland Britain and parts of Ireland, the Common Blue is considered as its name suggests the most commonly found species from the 20 Lycaenidae (blue) group of butterflies in the UK.

Seen from April-September emerging in several broods.Common Blue Butterflies are found in a wide rage of habitats including, grassy meadows, bridleways, roadside verges, heathland and on urban waste ground, most often seen, perched up off the ground, on a tall wild flower or grass stem.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) Female in sunshine

Quick Info

Family Group: Lycaenidae
Wingspan approx: 32mm
Caterpillar Food Plants: Birds-foot Trefoil, Greater Birds-foot Trefoil, Black Medic (Medicago lupulina), Common Restharrow (Ononis repens)
Nectar Plant: Knapweeds, Wild Marjoram, Daisies, Common Ragwort, Sow Thistle
Photographed – 23 June 2010
Location – Barnack Hills and Holes.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) Male in sunshine

The upper wings of the male common blue are violet blue with narrow black margins and white fringes unlike the female’s which are brown, tinted with blue scales with orange crescents on the outer margins of the fore-wings and orange crescents with black spots with on the margins of the hind-wings.The under wings of both the male and females are brownish grey with black and orange spots.

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) wings closed underside

Common Blue Butterfly (Polyommatus icarus) wing undersides

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