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Photo: Amanda Suddaby |
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UK
Safari Tip:
Need help identifying butterflies? Checkout the beautifully illustrated
fold-out chart in the Nature Shop called "Butterflies of
Britain" - click here
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Latin name: Celastrina argiolus
Size: Wingspan approximately 33mms.
Distribution: Found throughout most parts of England, Wales and N.
Ireland. Scarce in Scotland.
Months seen: March to September.
Habitat: Hedgerows, gardens and woodland edges,
Food: Nectar and honeydew. The bright green caterpillars feed mostly on
holly and ivy.
Special features: If you see a blue butterfly in your garden, it's most
likely to be the Holly Blue. It's the only blue butterfly which is regularly
seen in gardens.
 You can distinguish a Holly Blue from the other
blue butterflies by the very bright silver-blue undersides of the wings. The
only other blue butterfly with similar markings is the 'Small blue', but this is
a much smaller butterfly.
The Holly Blue nearly always rests with its wings tightly closed. It only
rarely opens them slightly to reveal the vivid blue forewings, which have a
white border. The females (above) also have a black band near the edge.
This species has two broods each year, and the second brood usually has a thicker, more
prominent black band.
The Holly Blue caterpillar releases a sugary secretion which attracts ants. In return for this sweet snack the ants help to protect the caterpillar through pupation.
UK Safari Butterfly Section
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