61.010 Cupido minimus (Small Blue)
ws: 18-27mm; bivoltine in south May-Jun,
Jul-Aug, univoltine in north Scotland Jun; kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria);
mainly a species of chalk and limestone downs in S.England and S.Wales but
colonies also exist in Cumbria, Scottish Borders and N.Scotland.
Cupido minimus (Small Blue) §1 male
ID: male upperside is blackish with a blue sheen, female is brown. The undersides are quite similar to Celastrina argeolus (Holly Blue) but this is easily distinguished by its bright blue upperside.
§1 Pembrey CP, Carmarthenshire; 13/05/2011; male
§2 Lewes Down, East Sussex; 13/06/2020; female; fw 11.0mm
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Lewes Down, East Sussex; 13/06/2020; female; fw 11.0mm
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 18/07/2014 (§1) | §2 added 247/06/2020
