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SMALL BLUE

This is one of the smallest butterflies in Europe, both sexes may have an overall wingspan of only 10mm. Although called the small blue, there is only a hint of blue on the basal scales of the male’s upper wings, the rest being grey, with a white border. The female’s upper wings are sooty brown. The underwings are a silvery grey, with a turquoise hint near the body and a few white ringed black spots.

You will find it flying close to the ground near patches of kidney vetch, which is its sole foodplant. Males set up territories in sheltered positions, perching on tall grass stalks or scrub. Both sexes can be found from late afternoon onwards, in communal roosts, facing head down in long grass. This butterfly is declining, due to the dependency of its caterpillars on kidney vetch, which only flourishes on calcareous soils. The caterpillars grow quickly on the vetch and are frequently attended by ants, like most European blue butterflies. You will find this butterfly, whilst walking in the hills and mountains, near dry grassland and scrubland.

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