Attenborough Nature Reserve

Butterflies


Common Blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common Blue This is the only other blue butterfly to be seen on the reserve. The males can be separated from Holly Blue by their overall darker appearance and orange markings on the underwing. The female has orange markings on both the underwing and upperwing which is usually dark brown, showing only a small amount of dark blue. The habitat of this species also differs from that of Holly Blue in that they prefer open meadows where their larvae feed on trefoils and clovers.