Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolus)

Family: Lycaenidae Checklist: 61.012

 
Description
Wing span: 26-34 mm. This butterfly is often seen in gardens, flying around shrubs. Both sexes have blue uppersides; females have black borders on both pairs of wings. In second-brood females the borders are wider. Both sexes have pale blue undersides with black dots. They usually keep their wings closed while at rest. The Holly Blue is widespread in southern and central England. It can be found in woods and along hedges where there is plenty of Holly and Ivy nearby. It can also be found in churchyards, parks and gardens.
 
Images (click to enlarge)
Holly Blue ♂ © David Hastings
Holly Blue ♂ © David Hastings
Holly Blue ♀ © David Hastings
Holly Blue ♀ © David Hastings
Male Male Female Female
 
Life Cycle
There are typically two emergences each year, and sometimes a third one in the south in good years. Adults from overwintering pupae can emerge as early as the first week of April, with the next generation emerging at the end of July, and the third (if present) in September.
 
Larval Foodplants
The main foodplants are Holly (in spring) and Ivy (in summer). Bramble, Dogwoods, Gorses, Snowberries and Spindle are also used.
 
Nectar Sources
Adults feed primarily on Bramble, Bugle, Buttercups, Forget-me-not, Holly, Honeydew, Sap, Ivy, Privet, Thistles and Water Mint.
 
UK Conservation Status
Least Concern
 
Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 27th February
Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 28th March
 
 
Distribution and Sites
 

Key
1 sighting 2-9 max seen 10+ max seen
This species is a habitat generalist, so can be found almost anywhere in the UTB region.

 
Related Species
All Species