INSECTS
Blues, Coppers and Hairstreaks belong to the Lycaenidae family. Blue males are normally brighter than the females. Hairstreaks have a thin white line on the wing underside. Species in this family have six walking legs.
BROWN ARGUS
-
Brown ArgusBrown Argus
Brown Argus
Aricia agestis
The Brown Argus is sometimes confused with Common Blue females. The two species can be distinguished from each other by comparing spots on the underside of the wings.
-
Brown ArgusBrown Argus
Brown Argus
Aricia agestis
The Brown Argus is sometimes confused with Common Blue females. The two species can be distinguished from each other by comparing spots on the underside of the wings.
COMMON BLUE
-
Common BlueCommon Blue
Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
A common species found in a range of grassy locations. Males are brightly coloured with dark veins that do not extend into white fringes of wing margins like in similar-looking species. Females vary in colouration and may be almost completely brown.
-
Common BlueCommon Blue
Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
A common species found in a range of grassy locations. Males are brightly coloured with dark veins that do not extend into white fringes of wing margins like in similar-looking species. Females vary in colouration and may be almost completely brown.
-
Common BlueCommon Blue
Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
A common species found in a range of grassy locations. Males are brightly coloured with dark veins that do not extend into white fringes of wing margins like in similar-looking species. Females vary in colouration and may be almost completely brown.
-
Common BlueCommon Blue
Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
A common species found in a range of grassy locations. Males are brightly coloured with dark veins that do not extend into white fringes of wing margins like in similar-looking species. Females vary in colouration and may be almost completely brown.
-
Common BlueCommon Blue
Common Blue
Polyommatus icarus
A common species found in a range of grassy locations. Males are brightly coloured with dark veins that do not extend into white fringes of wing margins like in similar-looking species. Females vary in colouration and may be almost completely brown.
SMALL COPPER
-
Small CopperSmall Copper
Small Copper
Lycaena phlaeas
Often seen in the meadows especially where the grass is short. Males bask on bare ground in the sun waiting for females to flutter by chasing off competition and other insects to defend their territory. They are on the wing from May to September. There are usually three broods a year, when conditions are good there is sometimes a fourth during October. The caterpillars feed mainly on Sheep's sorrel.
-
Small CopperSmall Copper
Small Copper
Lycaena phlaeas
Often seen in the meadows especially where the grass is short. Males bask on bare ground in the sun waiting for females to flutter by chasing off competition and other insects to defend their territory. They are on the wing from May to September. There are usually three broods a year, when conditions are good there is sometimes a fourth during October. The caterpillars feed mainly on Sheep's sorrel.
PURPLE HAIRSTREAK
-
Purple HairstreakPurple Hairstreak
Purple Hairstreak
Favonius quercus
Mainly flies around oak tree-tops so may go unnoticed, however this Butterfly may occasionally be seen flying closer to the ground. Purple is not usually showing when settled because the wings are usually kept closed showing the brown undersides. Its larvae feed on various types of Oak tree.
-
Purple HairstreakPurple Hairstreak
Purple Hairstreak
Favonius quercus
Mainly flies around oak tree-tops so may go unnoticed, however this Butterfly may occasionally be seen flying closer to the ground. Purple is not usually showing when settled because the wings are usually kept closed showing the brown undersides. Its larvae feed on various types of Oak tree.
-
Purple HairstreakPurple Hairstreak
Purple Hairstreak
Favonius quercus
Mainly flies around oak tree-tops so may go unnoticed, however this Butterfly may occasionally be seen flying closer to the ground. Purple is not usually showing when settled because the wings are usually kept closed showing the brown undersides. Its larvae feed on various types of Oak tree.
-
Purple HairstreakPurple Hairstreak
Purple Hairstreak
Favonius quercus
Mainly flies around oak tree-tops so may go unnoticed, however this Butterfly may occasionally be seen flying closer to the ground. Purple is not usually showing when settled because the wings are usually kept closed showing the brown undersides. Its larvae feed on various types of Oak tree.