Blue Butterflies
Common Blue (Polyammatus icarus)
As its name implies, this is the most widespread blue butterfly in the UK. The main food source for its caterpillars is Bird’s Foot Trefoil, which is flourishing in many places on our bank.
Top photo shows first sighting on the BB - 23rd May 2024. Bottom closed wing view shows a pair mating.
Small Blue (Cupido minimus)
The smallest of the UK’s resident butterflies, it can be seen feeding on Horseshoe Vetch and Bird’s Foot Trefoil but only where Kidney Vetch also grows - the sole food for its caterpillars. We are growing all these plants on our bank and are overjoyed to find that we have eggs on our Kidney Vetch. As the Small Blue is a priority species in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan we are very proud of this success.
The top photo shows the first sighting on the BB on 23 May 2023 and the lower one a closed wing view of a female laying eggs taken on 20 May 2025
Holly Blue (Celastrina argiolas)
This butterfly visits a variety of sources for nectar but it seems to have a preference for honeydew over nectar. Honeydew is a sugar-rich sticky liquid secreted by aphids and other bugs and insects. The primary food source for its caterpillars is Holly; hence its name.