Common Meadow Blue
Common NameCommon Meadow Blue
Scientific NamePolyommatus icarus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsgray, black, orange, blue
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, heathland, woodland clearings, gardens
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host PlantsBird's-foot Trefoil, clover, medick
Flight PeriodApril to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants, typically legumes. Larvae are small, green, and often associated with ants. Overwinters as a larva, pupating near the ground or in leaf litter.
Identification TipsLook for the pale grayish-brown underside with black spots ringed in white, and the distinctive orange patch with a black spot and blue scales on the hindwing tornus. Males typically have bright blue uppersides, while females are brown with orange spots.
Description
A small butterfly with a pale grayish-brown underside, marked with numerous black spots ringed in white. The hindwing features a prominent orange patch with a central black spot and iridescent blue scales near the tornus.
