Polyommatus Icarus Known as Common Blue, wingspan 28mm to 36mm.
Family... Lycaenidae and subfamily: Polyommatinae.
Flight season: May to late October.
Widespread throughout Europe, North Africa and Canary Islands. It is common throughout the British Isles and having blue wings, hence the name “Common Blue”. Unfortunately, this small butterfly is not so common today, it is currently estimated the numbers are down 96%, mainly due to Agriculture needs; leading to vast areas of habitat loss.
Habitat... short grass meadows, wastelands, heaths, coastal dunes and woodland clearings. One of their favourite foodplant being, “Birds Foot” (Lotus corniculatus) so where this and other preferred food plants grow: Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) Restharrows (Ononis spp).
The Common Blue’s larvae are small, pale green caterpillars with yellow stripes. They hibernate among dead leaves until a pale green chrysalis is formed on the ground, some are carried into ants’ nests found under stones.
Usually the “Common Blue” has two adult broods, sometimes three by early Autumn.
In the images below showing male and female Common Blue's.