Small blue butterfly

This is the smallest UK butterfly but can be seen in numbers where it occurs. The upper wing is a dusky colour with a hint of blue and the underwing is a very light brown-blue with obvious black spots, no orange as in the Common blue. Although Common blues can be very small the Small blue really is tiny with a maximum of 30mm wingspan.

They rely solely on Kidney vetch for their caterpillar food plant. They live in colonies and can be seen roosting, head down, in grass. Small blues can be found all along the NPT coastal belt and at some inland sites, particularly where there is an abundance of Kidney vetch.

Best spot = Around The Quays NPTCBC office.

For more information see the Butterfly Conservation Small blue butterfly page.