Description
The silver-studded blue is a small butterfly, similar in appearance although slightly smaller than the more regularly seen Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus).
The upper-wings of the male are purpleish/blue, with a border of black on the outer margins. The female is dark brown, with a dusting of blue scales, and orange spots around the margins of the wings.
Silver-studded blue butterflies are single brooded, emerging and on the wing in mid June, they form a close colony, most colonies contain just a few hundred adults, although in an area with plenty suitable habitat, there may be more than one colony.
Where
Localised but widespread the Silver-Studded Blue mainly found across the Southern counties of the UK, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cornwall, Devon and Wales.
Male Silver-studded blue butterfly showing bright blue upper-wings
Seen mid June Silver-studded Blue on Heather
Quick Info: Silver-studded Blue
- Name: Silver-studded Blue (Plebejus argus)
- Family Group: Blues – Lycaenidae.
- Habitat: Found mainly in warm areas on open sandy heaths or occasionally on grassland and coastal dunes in areas where Gorse, Ling and Bell heather are often found.
- When: Beginning mid June, with numbers of individuals peaking around the end of June into July although this varies depending on the subspecies and colonies location.
- Size around: 28-30mm
- Larval Food Plant: Gorse (Ulex europaeus) and Bell Heather (Ling) (Erica cinerea)
- Adult Nectar Plant: Flowers like Bell heather, Birds-foot trefoil.
- Population Status: A priority species for conservation although the overall population at this time is stable
- Photographed: Kelling Heath, Norfolk