Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Description

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Common blue fact file

• Description
• Biology
• Range
• Habitat
• Status
• Threats
• Conservation
• Find out more
• Glossary
• References
• Print factsheet

Common blue description

The common blue is the most widespread of the blue butterflies in Britain ⁽⁴⁾, and as the name suggests, it is one of the most common butterflies in Europe ⁽⁵⁾. The males are a striking bluish-violet colour, but females are brown with orange spots near the margins of the wings. In both sexes, the undersides of the wings are greyish brown with blackish spots and orange crescents towards the margins of the wings ⁽²⁾. The caterpillar has a stout body, which tapers towards the tips. The head is black and the body is green. A darker green line bordered with white passes along the centre of the back. There is also a whitish-green line along the sides ⁽³⁾.

Size

Caterpillar length: up to 13 mm ⁽³⁾

Wingspan: 25 – 40 mm ⁽²⁾

Common blue biology

In the common blue, the number of generations produced each year varies depending on the geographic location of the population. In the majority of England and Wales there are two broods per year (the populations are ‘bivoltine’), with adults on the wing in May and June and again in August and September. Populations in Scotland and parts of England to the north of Yorkshire are single-brooded (‘univoltine’); adults are present between June and September, with emergence occurring earlier in warmer areas. Occasionally, in warm years, double-brooded and single-brooded populations may go on to produce an extra brood in the same year, thanks to the warm weather. This phenomenon indicates that the factors governing the number of broods produced are environmental, rather than genetic ⁽⁴⁾.

The eggs are laid singly on the foodplants and take around a week to hatch ⁽³⁾. Caterpillars of the first generation (or of the only generation in single-brooded populations) take around 6 weeks to become fully developed. Second brood caterpillars overwinter when partly grown, and complete their development during the following year ⁽³⁾. Pupation occurs either at the base of the foodplant or amongst litter on the ground ⁽⁴⁾ and adult butterflies emerge after around two weeks ⁽³⁾.

In common with many other species of blue butterflies, the caterpillars of the common blue are attractive to ants when they are fully grown. The pupae are also attractive to ants and are often carried away into ant nests ⁽⁴⁾.

Common blue range

This butterfly is found throughout Britain and occurs on most off-shore islands including the Outer Hebrides and Orkney ⁽⁴⁾. It is most numerous in the south of England and Wales and is scarce in areas at altitudes of over 300 meters, becoming absent over 500 m ⁽⁴⁾. Elsewhere, the range of this species extends throughout Europe, North Africa and in temperate parts of Asia ⁽²⁾.

You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

Common blue habitat

Occurs in a wide range of grassy habitats where the foodplants occur. The main foodplant is common bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), although other trefoils, clovers (Trifolium) and related plants may be used ^{(2) (5)}. This species tends to be found in sunny, sheltered areas, and typical habitats include downland, woodland clearings, coastal dunes, road verges, golf courses, cemeteries and occasionally gardens ^{(4) (5)}.

Common blue status

Not threatened ⁽⁴⁾.

Common blue threats

This species is not threatened at present.

Common blue conservation

Not relevant.

There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.

View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre.

Find out more

For more on this species see: The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Europe (2001). By Asher, J., et al. Published by Oxford University Press.

For more on butterflies and their conservation see the Butterfly Conservation website:
www.butterfly-conservation.org

You can see the common blue by visiting Babbacombe, South Devon:

• Royal Geographical Society’s Discovering Britain walks: 
  http://www.discoveringbritain.org/walks/region/south-west-england/babbacombe.html

Authentication

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Glossary

Bivoltine

(also known as ‘double-brooded’). Insect life cycle that takes 12 months to be complete, but involves two generations in that time. The first generation adults lay eggs that give rise to those of the second generation. The second generation overwinters either as an egg, larva, pupa or adult.

Pupae

Stage in an insect’s development when huge changes occur, which reorganise the larval form into the adult form. In butterflies the pupa is also called a chrysalis.

Pupation

The process of becoming a pupa, the stage of an insect’s development, when huge changes occur that reorganise the larval form into the adult form. In butterflies the pupa is also called a chrysalis.

univoltine

(Also known as ‘single brooded’). Insect life cycle that takes 12 months to be complete, and involves a single generation. The egg, larva, pupa or adult over winters as a dormant stage.

References

1. National Biodiversity Network Species Dictionary (September 2003):
   http://www.nhm.ac.uk/nbn/
2. Carter, D. & Hargreaves, B. (1986) A field guide to caterpillars of butterflies and moths in Britain and Europe. William Collins & Sons Ltd, London.
3. Carter, D. (1992) Butterflies and moths. Dorling Kindersley, London.
4. Asher, J., Warren, M., Fox, R., Harding, P., Jeffcoate, G. & Jeffcoate, S. (2001) The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press, Oxford.
5. Still, J. (1996) Collins Wild Guide: butterflies and moths of Britain and Europe. Harper Collins Publishers, London.