Northern Blue
Common NameNorthern Blue
Scientific NamePlebejus idas
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale blue-grey, orange, black, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, clearings, heathlands, bogs, meadows, forest edges
Geographic RangeHolarctic: Northern Europe, Asia, and North America (Alaska, Canada, northern US)
Host PlantsVaccinium, Andromeda, Empetrum, Ledum, Lathyrus, Lotus, Astragalus, Oxytropis
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants. Larvae are typically green and are often tended by ants (myrmecophilous). The species overwinters as an egg or larva, completing one generation per year.
Identification TipsLook for the pale blue-grey underside with a row of black, white-ringed spots and a prominent submarginal band of orange crescents on the hindwings. Males have bright violet-blue uppersides, while females are typically brown with orange spots.
Description
A small butterfly with pale blue-grey undersides, featuring a row of black, white-ringed spots and a distinctive submarginal band of orange crescents on the hindwings.
