Common Blue

Scientific Name - Polyommatus icarus

Flight Period - May to October

Overwinters as - Larva

Habitat - Grassland, woodland rides and clearings

Larval foodplants - Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Black Medick, White Clover

Conservation status - Low priority

Northamptonshire distribution - Widespread

Best public sites to see them - Anywhere with suitable habitat

The Common Blue is a common butterfly of grasslands, woodland rides and clearings. The late summer brood of this butterfly can often see numbers far in excess of the spring brood, and in areas where its main foodplants are abundant (Trefoils and Clovers), three-figure counts aren’t unusual. Common Blues can sometimes be confused with the Holly Blue, especially when seen in the garden, and the darker females can also be confused with the Brown Argus. For more information about how to identify the commoner Blues please click here.

Common Blue Distribution 2018 - 2022

Male Common Blue upperwing

Common Blue underwing

Common Blues mating

Common Blue egg

Female Common Blue upperwing

Dark female Common Blues such as this one can sometimes be mistaken for Brown Argus in the field