Common Blue Butterflies

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Scientific name: Polyommatus icarus

Size: Wingspan up to 35mm.

Distribution: Found throughout the UK.

Months seen: May to October.

Food: Nectar. The caterpillars feed on bird's-foot trefoil

Habitat: Meadows, rough grassland and gardens.

Special features: On sunny days you can sometimes find Common Blue Butterflies feeding together in small colonies.  Of all the blue butterflies these are the most commonly seen.

The bright blue male is unmistakable, but the female is darker in colour, and can have varying amounts of brown on the wings.

In southern England there can be two broods each year.  The first will be on the wing from May to June, while the second emerges from late July to September.  Further north there is normally just one brood appearing between July and August.

The green caterpillars are about 10mm long, quite flattened in appearance, and have a shiny black head.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Butterflies Section
• Identify other wildlife
• What's Out Now?