EASTERN BATON BLUE
This is a tiny butterfly, often confused with the chequered blue, which is slightly larger. They can grow up to a total of 26mm overall wingspan, but the individuals I have seen, have been no larger than 20mm. The males are a dusky, bluey grey, with a broad black border, fringed with light blue. The females, as with most blues, are brown! The underwings are a pale silvery grey, heavily spotted with black dots and 5 orange spots on the edge of the hind wing.
The caterpillars of this, and other European blues, are attended by ants. The caterpillars secrete sugary, nutritious substances which the ants appreciate, and the close proximity of the ants helps to protect the caterpillars from predators. This butterfly avoids the wind by flying close to the ground. They prefer dry grasslands, rocky slopes, with scrub and sparse vegetation. I have seen them frequently here, on my walks in the hills and mountains.
