Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
The common blue is the most widespread blue butterfly in Central Europe. Males are bright violet-blue above, females mostly brown with orange marginal spots; underneath both sexes are grey-brown with many white-ringed black spots and a row of orange marks along the edge.
- Group
- Blues
- Photos
- 8
- Taken
- 2020–2024
Profile: Common Blue
- Family
- Gossamer-winged butterflies (Lycaenidae)
- Wingspan
- approx. 25–35 mm
- Habitat
- Open country from dry to damp, such as flower-rich, unfertilised meadows on embankments and dykes, field margins, and wet or fen meadows.
- Diet
- Caterpillars feed on legumes such as bird's-foot trefoil, restharrow, lucerne and clovers; the adults prefer to take nectar from clover flowers.
- When to see
- Usually two, rarely three generations in Central Europe; flight period roughly from late April to October.
Learn more: Wikipedia