The
dazzling silver-studded blue is a rare butterfly of heathland habitats,
mainly in southern England. It has undergone severe population declines
in recent years.
About
The
silver-studded blue emerges in June and is usually on the wing until
late August. It is a rare butterfly, generally found in heathland
habitats that have shorter, sparsely vegetated areas. It is restricted
to close-knit colonies in southern England and Wales. Two subspecies can
be found in its range, while two others are now extinct in the UK. The
larvae feed on a wide variety of plants, such as bell heather,
cross-leaved heath and gorses.How to identify
The
silver-studded blue is a small butterfly which gets its name from the
light blue reflective 'studs' (scales) found on the underside of the
wings. The upper wings are blue with a dark outer rim. Males are bluer
than females, which are more of a dull brown.Distribution
Restricted to specific sites in southern England, eastern England, Wales and Shropshire.Did you know?
The caterpillars of the
silver-studded blue have a close relationship with ants! The ants
protect the caterpillars from predators and parasites, in return they
get to feed on a sugary substance that the caterpillars produce. When
the caterpillars are ready to pupate, they do so in a shallow chamber
just below the ground - often in ant nests. The ants will attend the
pupa just as they did the caterpillar, and can even be seen swarming
around the newly-emerged adult butterflies, offering them some
protection as they wait for their wings to dry.
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