Common Blue

Polyommatus icarus

Common & widespread throughout Britain.

The Caterpillar is small, pale green with yellow stripes and, as usual with Lycaenid larvae, rather slug-like.

The Larvae feeds on Bird's-foot Trefoil mainly, but also feeds on Black Medick.

The dorsal side of the Male's wings is an iridescent lilac blue, bright violet-blue, or almost hyacinth-blue with a thin black border. 

Females' wings are brown or black-brown with a row of red reddish yellow spots along the edges of the wings (marginal spots) and usually some blue at the base. 

Flight period is from May-June & July-September.