Wildlife Photography and Digital Video Images
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Butterflies 78 – Holly Blues
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(m)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(m)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(m)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(m)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(f)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(f)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(f)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(f)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(f)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(f)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus
(f)
HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY Celastrina
argiolus (f)
HOLLY BLUE
BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus (f)
HOLLY BLUE BUTTERFLY Celastrina argiolus (f)
·
In the southern counties of the UK the Holly
Blue Butterfly Celastrina argiolus is more likely to be encountered in
gardens or parks than other Blues and it often flies relatively high, with the
silvery, rather reflective undersides catching the sunlight and it may
therefore be quite conspicuous despite its diminutive size. Two generations
normally occur each year with fairly strong evidence of a partial third brood quite
late in the year when conditions are favourable and the use of a wide range of
larval foodplants (including the seasonal use of Holly Ilex aquifolium and Ivy Hedera helix)
gives this common species a distinct advantage. Both sexes have blue uppersides but those of the females are characterised by
broad black borders and the extent of these markings is greater in the summer
brood. The population fluctuates noticeably, almost certainly as the
consequence of cyclical parasitism of the larvae by a species-specific
parasitic wasp Listrodromus nycthemerus. As the population of the butterflies
falls there will be a consequential drop in the number of the parasites and
once it has risen again in the absence of a high population of the wasps the
cycle will repeat itself. These butterflies are more photogenic with their
wings open – but they often settle with them firmly closed, stubbornly refusing
to oblige! On the Continent there are numerous other species of Blue
butterflies to look out for, the most likely confusion species (as their
undersides are superficially similar) being the Short-tailed Blues belonging to
the genus Everes.
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