Common Blue Polyommatus icarus

Habitat

The Common Blue is the most widely distributed of the British blues and is commonly seen in a wide range of grassy habitats, including meadows, dunes, heaths, roadside verges and gardens.

Identification

The male is violet-blue with a fine black edge and white wing margins. Females also have white wing borders, and vary from the usual brown form with a hint of blue to those which are extensively blue varieties, all with orange marginal spots. The underside of the hind wings lacks the vertical twin spots of the Brown Argus.

Flight times

Generally double-brooded, it is on the wing in May and June, and again in August and September.

Food plants

Eggs are laid singly on a variety of leguminous plants, but it favours Bird's-foot-trefoil, Restharrow and Black Medick.