Insect
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Size
29–36 mm wingspanAbout the width of a 50p coin
Weight
0.1 gVirtually weightless
Lifespan
3–5 days as an adult
Rarity
Common
M vs F
Males are vivid sky-blue above; females are brown with orange spots — so different they were once described as separate species
Habitat
Flower-rich grassland, chalk downland, coastal dunes, road verges — anywhere with Bird's-foot Trefoil
Best time
May–September (two broods)
Conservation
UK: Green
LC
💡 Did you know?
Common Blue caterpillars produce a sugary secretion that ants 'milk' like cows — in return, the ants guard the caterpillar from parasites and predators
Adults navigate using polarised UV light, reading patterns in the sky to orient when clouds block the sun — a compass invisible to human eyes
Often confused with
Holly Blue (lighter blue
no orange spots below)
Adonis Blue (brighter blue male
chequered wing edge — chalk downland only)
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