Common Blue

ADULT: Wingspan - 29 - 36mm. The males uppersides of this common butterfly are strong violet-blue and unmarked except for the thin black marginal line and plain white fringe. The female however is a dull brown with a variable dusting of blue. However specimens, especially towards the north, can be blue with large brownish borders. There is a row on each of the females wings of orange submarginal lunules with the fringes ranging from white to brown. The males underside is mainly grey-brown becoming blue towards the base. Orange submarginal lunules are present on both wings and a white wedge is found in the centre away from 4 post-discal spots. The females underside is as of the males only with stronger markings. CHRYSALIS: 10mm. Green and found below ground due to burying by ants. LARVA: 13mm. Green with dark green lines along the back and paler ones along the sides. EGG: White and disc shaped. Located on black medick, birds-foot trefoil, restharrow and clovers. Hatching time within 9 days. BEHAVIOUR: A colony species but males will stray quite far and wide. Both sexes are busy little butterflies flitting from flower to flower with the males being territorial in their behaviour. Will bask in low sunshine usually head downwards. HABITAT: Gardens, parks, heaths, dunes, wasteland, cliffs and disused quarries. FLIGHT PERIOD: May - August in two distinct broods.