Common blue by iaacf

Photography • Macro • posted on Aug 24, 2008

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Description

From Wikipedia: 'Male uppersides are an iridescent lilac blue with a thin black border. Females are brown with a row of red spots along the edges. They usually have some blue at the base of the wings and, especially in Ireland and Scotland, are mostly blue but always have the red spots. Undersides have a greyish ground colour in the males and more brownish in the females. Both sexes have a row of red spots along the edge of the hindwings (extending onto the forewings though generally fainter, particularly in the males where they are sometimes missing altogether). There are about a dozen black centered white spots on the hind wings, nine on the forwings. The white fringe on the outer edge of the wings is not crossed with black lines as it is in the Chalkhill and Adonis Blues, an important difference when separating these species, particularly the females. It is probably Europe's most common and most widespread blue. Males are often very obvious as they defend territories against rivals and search out the more reclusive females. A range of grassland habitats are used: meadows, coastal dunes, woodland clearings and also many man made habitats, anywhere where their food plants are found. It is widespread in Europe, North Africa and temperate Asia. Lifecycle and food plants The main food plant on most sites is Bird's foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). Others used include Black Medick Medicago lupulina, Common Restharrow Ononis repens, White Clover Trifolium repens and Lesser Trefoil Trifolium dubium. Eggs are laid singly on young shoots of their food plants. The caterpillar is small, pale green with yellow stripes and as usual with lycid larvae rather slug-like. Hibernation occurs as a half grown larvae. They are attractive to ants but not as much as some other species of blues. The chrysalis is olive green/brown and formed on the ground where it is attended by ants which will often take it into their nests. The larvae creates a substance called honey dew, which the ants eat while the butterfly lives in the ant hill. In the south of Britain there are two broods a year flying in May and June and again in August and September. Northern England has one brood flying between June and September. In a long warm year there is sometimes a partial third brood in the south flying into October.'

Comments (19)

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mermaid

10:56AM | Sun, 24 August 2008

What a delicate and wonderful beeing...and a marvelous shot!

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tennesseecowgirl

10:56AM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Beautiful~

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CavalierLady

11:11AM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Beautiful image, with lovely background. Not common here, I would be beside myself if I saw one! Very nicely done!

rocio-de-miel

11:13AM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Splendid shot! And beautiful colors. Have a nice day

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durleybeachbum

11:32AM | Sun, 24 August 2008

I'm so glad you've got one open, I intebnd to post a closed wing shot tomorrow!! I love the furry vest.

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MrsRatbag

11:55AM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Stunning capture! I've never seen one of those, I guess we don't have them here in the states...

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helanker

12:01PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

OHHH DEAR !!! It is so beautiful. what a gorgeous macro. SUper shot indeed.

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kgb224

4:33PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Lol it needs a hair cut.Excellent macro captured by you.

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Leeco

10:09PM | Sun, 24 August 2008

Excellent shot of and info about this beautiful Butterfly. I love the colors of it and the background. Thanks for sharing. Lee

MrsLubner

12:34AM | Mon, 25 August 2008

This is so beautiful it almost doesn't look real. The powder blue color is just incredible. So is the detail.

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hotracer2

8:55AM | Mon, 25 August 2008

Beautiful capture:):):)

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kbatty

9:48AM | Mon, 25 August 2008

How gorgeous! He definately would not be common here!

philiplopezjr

5:11PM | Mon, 25 August 2008

I am always amazed at how vibrant nature can be, and I've come to expect though never take for granted how wonderfully you capture it in the camera. Your shots are amazing.

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