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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
Double broods occur in England Wales and Ireland and butterflies can be seen between May - June and August - September. Partial 3rd broods may occur in good years. Single broods occur north of Derbyshire in England Scotland and parts of Northern Ireland with adults on the wing between June and September. Partial 2nd broods may occur in good years.
The bright blue males are most easily seen while the females are more secretive in behavior.
Counting and recording of Common Blues can be quite easy. The best time to make accurate counts of numbers within a colony is to visit the site late in the evening or during sunset. With experience and a good eye most individuals can be found usually resting on a dried grass stem facing down wings closed but one side face on to the sun to absorb as much heat as possible before the sun finally sets.
Habitat
The Common Blue is found in a variety of grassy habitats particularly where the larval foodplants can be found in sunny sheltered positions. Many habitats are used including road verges woodland clearings disused railway lines quarries and coastal areas.
Larval Food Plants
The larvae feed on a variety of plants including Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) White Clover (Trifolium repens) and Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium).
The larvae are difficult to find on the food plant however locating the eggs is easier being white and laid on the upper surfaces of the leaves.
British Subspecies
The following sub-species of the Common Blue occur in the UK.
 Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus icarus (Rottemburg, 1775) - Occurs in southern and central England, Wales and Scotland.
Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus mariscolore (Kane, 1893) - Occurs in Ireland where it is common.The female is generally larger, with extensive blue colouration and larger, brighter orange marginal spots compared to that of the ssp. icarus.
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 52 photographs of the Common Blue in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1922 - Common Blue
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BB1874 - Common Blue
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BB1873 - Common Blue
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BB1613 - Common Blue
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BB1612 - Common Blue
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BB1611 - Common Blue
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BB1610 - Common Blue
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BB1609 - Common Blue
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| Distribution |
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| The Common Blue can be found across much of England and Wales and parts of Southern Scotland. The Common Blue is the most widespread butterfly in the UK but may only be found in substantial numbers where a breeding colony in favourable environmental conditions can be found. |
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| Where to see the Common Blue |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Common Blue is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  down by -21% |
(1976-2004)  up by 9% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not listed (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 least concern4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Common Blue can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 43 named aberrant forms of the Common Blue. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. albescens - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. albistria - Wright (1941) |
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| ab. albocincta - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. albocuneata - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. albomarginata - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. angulata - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. anticoalbocincta - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. anticoelunata - Verity (1943) |
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| ab. anticoelunata-supracaerulea - Verity (1943) |
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| ab. anticoelunata-thestylis - Verity (1943) |
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| ab. antico-obsoleta - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. apicojuncta - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. apicta-caerulescens - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. apicta-thetis - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. arcuata-costa-retrojuncta - Courvoisier (1912) |
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| ab. aurescens - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. auropuncta - Bright & Leeds (1938) |
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| ab. caerulea - Fuchs (1877) |
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| ab. caeruleocincta - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. caerulescens - Wheeler (1903) |
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| ab. cervinescens - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. extensa - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. flavescens - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. fusca - Gillmer (1908) |
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| ab. glomerata - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. hylasoides - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. iphis-cuneata - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. livida - Gillmer (1909) |
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| ab. melanotoxa - Pincitore-Marott (1872) |
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| ab. minor - Cockerell (1889) |
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| ab. nigromaculata - Cockerell (1889) |
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| ab. obsoleta - Gillmer (1908) |
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| ab. pallescens - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. pallida - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. parvipuncta - Courvoisier (1903) |
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| ab. polyphemus - Esper (1779) |
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| ab. posticoalbocincta - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. posticocaeruleopuncta - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. radiata - Courvoisier (1907) |
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| ab. rufina - Oberthür (1894) |
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| ab. semipersica - Tutt (1896) |
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| ab. subcaerulescens - Tutt (1910) |
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| ab. subtus-radiata - Oberthür (1896) |
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The following aberrant forms of the Common Blue have been photographed in the wild in Britain:
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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29-36mm
