Silver-studded Blue Butterflies

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Latin name:  Plebejus argus

Size:  Wingspan up to 35mm

Distribution:  Found in southern England, East Anglia and parts of north Wales

Months seen:  June to late August

Habitat:  Heathland, especially on chalky soils

Food:  Nectar.  The caterpillars feed on gorse

Special features:  Male silver-studded blue butterflies are deep blue with an almost black border around the edges of their wings and a white fringe at the outside edge.  The females are usually brown with some orange spots at the edges of the wings.

These butterflies get their name from the shiny, silver-blue markings, inside the spots, on the underside of the hind wings.  These are present in both the males and females.  Silver-studded blues can also be distinguished from other similar species by the presence of a short spine, or spur, on the front legs.

The green caterpillars are just over 1cm in length.  They have a grey/black dorsal stripe and a creamy-yellow stripe along each side of te body.  They pupate inside ant nests.

Related Pages

• UK Safari Butterflies Section
• Identify other wildlife
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