Common Blue
Image: Gauchi (CC BY-SA 3.0)
Common NameCommon Blue
Scientific NamePolyommatus icarus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)32.5
Primary Colorspale blue, grey, black, white, reddish-brown
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, heathland, open woodland, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host Plantsbird's-foot trefoil, clovers, restharrow
Flight PeriodApril to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants, larvae feed on legumes and are often myrmecophilous (tended by ants), pupation occurs near the ground.
Identification TipsKey features include the pale greyish-blue underside with a characteristic arrangement of black spots, often ringed in white, and a clear white wing fringe. Males have iridescent blue uppersides, while females are typically brown with orange submarginal spots.
Description
A small butterfly depicted with pale greyish-blue undersides, featuring a distinct pattern of black spots, many ringed with white, and a prominent white fringe along the wing margins.
