Chalkhill Blue
Common NameChalkhill Blue
Scientific NamePolyommatus coridon
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblue, white, black, orange
HabitatChalk grasslands, calcareous grasslands, open grassy areas
Geographic RangeEurope, extending to parts of Asia
Host PlantsHippocrepis comosa (Horseshoe Vetch)
Flight PeriodJuly to September
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesThis species has a single brood per year. Eggs are laid on the host plant in late summer and overwinter, hatching in spring. Larvae feed on horseshoe vetch, and pupation occurs near the ground.
Identification TipsMales are easily identified by their striking chalky blue upperside. Both sexes display a pale, often silvery-blue or brownish-grey underside with prominent black spots ringed in white, and a characteristic row of orange crescents on the hindwing margin.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with a pale blue-grey underside, featuring numerous black spots ringed in white, and a distinctive row of orange spots along the hindwing margin.
