Small Blue
Common NameSmall Blue
Scientific NameCupido minimus
FamilyLycaenidae
SubfamilyPolyommatinae
Wingspan (mm)20
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale blue-grey, black
HabitatChalk and limestone grasslands, coastal dunes, heathland, brownfield sites
Geographic RangeEurope, North Africa, temperate Asia
Host PlantsKidney Vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria)
Flight PeriodMay to August (often two broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on the flower heads of Kidney Vetch. Larvae feed on the flowers and seeds, often attended by ants, and pupate at the base of the food plant or in leaf litter. It overwinters as a larva or pupa.
Identification TipsLook for its exceptionally small size and the distinctive pale blue-grey underside with a single row of small black spots, lacking any orange markings on the hindwing, which helps distinguish it from other blue butterflies.
Description
A very small butterfly with a pale blue-grey underside featuring a single row of small black spots. The upperside is typically dark brown, sometimes with a blue sheen in males.
