BUTTERFLIES

HOLLY BLUE:

The Latin name for the holly blue is Celastrina argiolus.

This is a small attractive butterfly with a wingspan of about 3.5cm. The wings have pale lilac-blue uppers and paler undersides. Females have more black on the apex and margins, and in the second generation are thickly marked in black.

These butterflies are often seen around shrubs in spring and late summer.

Eggs are laid on holly in spring, then the females from that generation lay on ivy, or occasionally other shrubs. The caterpillars are green and rather slug-like.