Celastrina argiolus
Date First Recorded in the Garden: 17/04/2022
Family Lycaenidae: The Blues, Coppers and Hairstreaks
This is a reasonable large family of butterflies found in many parts of the world, with often often very attractive species, but sadly just a handful (16) of species recorded in the UK. Out of these 16 species only the Holly Blue has ever visited us. We’ve not seen a Common Blue in the immediate area, but on a couple of occasions believe we have seen Small Coppers, but only from a distance so we were unsure.
Many members of this family have a close relationship with ants, either being protected by them in return for a sugary secretion. Or as a predator of their nests, or both at different stages.
The White Letter Hairstreak, a bit of a rarity has been recorded recently at our local nature reserve and is a bit of a rarity, depending as it does on Elm species. However it is unlikely to ever visit our Garden and if it does it will likely be blown here.
Holly Blue – Celastrina argiolus
A very welcome blue visitor to the Garden. This is a small butterfly and in the bright sunshine can appear almost white/silver due to the pale colour of the underwings.
Online sources state its populations are often in flux with one of it’s main predators, Listrodromus nycthemerus, a black and yellow wasp which we have never recorded in the Garden (at the time of writing this), although it is similar to several other species and could easily have been overlooked.
It’s larva feed on a few species, including Holly one assumes but also Ivy of which the Garden has plenty. It has a gland for issuing sugary liquid to Lazius species of Ant (again present in the Garden).
The short film recorded in July 2023 below is of a male as it rests from a strong breeze. These guys rarely seem to land so filming them can require a little patience.
DC: 30/07/2023
Wildlife Garden 