Chalkhill Blue butterfly

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Personal observations and pictures from a butterfly garden in Cirencester, Gloucestershire and images from the English countryside

Copyright ©Linda Walls 1998-2005

The Chalkhill Blue butterfly is identified by the dark veins crossing the white fringe of the upperside of the wings. The male is blue on the upperside but a slightly paler, chalkier blue than the Common Blue; the female is brown.

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My personal observations of the Chalkhill Blue butterfly

Seen in my Wiltshire garden: 3 August 1999 - very rare garden visitor

garden plants that attract this species: Hyssop

Images:

Female.

On Hyssop.

3 August 1999.

Butterfly sightings 2005:

I decided that I really wanted to see and photograph a Chalkhill Blue this year, so went out looking for one.

Chalkhill Blue on Knapweed at Barrow Wake, 18 August
Chalkhill Blue on Knapweed at Barrow Wake, 18 August
Chalkhill Blue also seen at Whitesheet Hill, 21 August

observations:

Chalkhill Blue butterflies are fairly common on the limestone grassland of the Cotswold hills. Cirencester is a small market town on the edge of the Cotswolds. I don't expect to see Chalkhill Blue butterflies in my garden though as I doubt that there's a nearby colony.

Reference Section

Size: 38mm (smaller than the Small White - see list of butterflies by size)

First Generation flight period: July-September

Habitat: chalk or limestone grassland
Larval Food Plants: Vetches, Bird's Foot Trefoil
Wild Nectar Plants: Knapweed

Family Group: Lycaenidae - see list of butterflies by family

This page last updated: 23 December, 2005

For british butterflies in flight this month, visit my homepage at www.butterflygarden.co.uk

The Chalkhill Blue butterfly is most likely to be confused with the Common Blue butterfly