Furry Blue
Common NameFurry Blue
Scientific NamePolyommatus icarus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale brown, grey, black, blue
HabitatMeadows, grasslands, heathland, gardens, coastal dunes
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host PlantsBird's-foot Trefoil, Black Medick, clovers
Flight PeriodApril to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants, typically legumes. Larvae are green and slug-like, often tended by ants. Pupation occurs near the ground.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its pale brown-grey underside with a full complement of black spots, often ringed with white. Males have bright blue uppersides, while females are typically brown with orange markings.
Description
A small butterfly with pale brownish-grey undersides marked with a series of prominent black spots, some ringed with white, and a hairy, faintly bluish body.
