The 'Blues and Coppers' (the latter of which we have only one in UK) belong to the family Lycaenidae which is our largest family of butterflies, and also includes the 'Hairstreaks' on the next page. Butterflies of this family are small in size but include some of our most brightly coloured species, as you will see when you work down the page. They tend to be colonial species, from a few individuals (in the case of Small Blue) to sometimes several thousand, as is the case of the Chalkhill Blue on some large sites.

 

Adonis Blue - Polyommatus bellargus

Wingspan:~30-40mm

There are no words and certainly no photograph which can really do justice to the vivid electric blue of the male Adonis Blue, the colours varying through different hues as the observation position changes or the butterfly manoevres its stance. The female Adonis Blue is mainly brown with a dusting of blue scales close to the body. The Adonis Blue is at the edge of its range in Southern England (up to S Midlands), so it's not surprising that it favours sunny south facing slopes, where the turf is short on chalk or limestone hillsides.   It also needs plentiful supply of the larval foodplant which is exclusively horseshoe vetch. Whilst neighbouring counties of Wiltshire, Dorset together with the Isle of White and parts of the North and South downs are considered strongholds of the Adonis Blue, Hampshire has only a few sites which meet the butterfly's stringent demands, however it does seem to be gaining ground here with a helping hand from English Nature - and perhaps global warming.

When to see:  Two generations per year, the first from late May, the second from mid/late August. In Hampshire, because colonies are small, flight periods are quite short, being just 3-4 weeks.

Where to see:  Until the last few years, Hampshire had only one Adonis Blue colony - at Martin Down National Nature Reserve in the far west of the county, however, it can now also be found reasonably reliably at two locations on Old Winchester Hill. There are also reports of the species in very small numbers from a few other downland sites around the county, such as Stockbridge Down, Pilot Hill and Danebury Hill, however it's too early to speculate on the longevity of these colonies.

 

Brown Argus - Plebeius agestis

Wingspan: ~25-30mm

The Brown Argus in almost every respect is the archetypal “blue” butterfly (family, size, wing pattern, behaviour....) except for one thing - its colour! There are no blue pigment wing scales on either sex, although freshly emerged specimens can have a slight bluish hue, due to diffraction. The butterfly is widespread in the south-east quadrant of England, including Hampshire. Its main habitats are on rough ground on dry hillsides and chalk downland, where the larval foodplant - common rock-rose - is plentiful. The butterflies are low flying, stopping frequently to take nectar from flowers or to bask. Identification can be difficult since the females of many other blue butterflies are brown or predominantly brown, and the Brown Argus can be found in company with other blue species. A good guide is its silvery grey appearance when in flight (resulting from the underwing colouration) which is characteristic of no other blue, but there are also subtle differences in markings which I will not attempt to elaborate here.

When to see: There are two generations per year, the first commencing early/mid May lasting aound 4-6 weeks, the second in mid July lasting until early September.

Where to see: The Brown Argus is not a species that is usually seen in large numbers, compared to some of the other blue species (e.g. a few sightings at a location is more typical). Good sites include, Noar Hill, Beacon Hill (Warnford), Magdalen Hill Down and Stockbridge Down. The species seems also to be establishing itself on Portsdown Hill.

 

Chalkhill Blue - Polyommatus coridon

Wingspan: ~ 32-40mm

As the name, suggests, the Chalkhill Blue favours chalk downland, mainly in Southern England and into the Midlands - and where suitable habitat exists, preferably on unmimproved downland, it can be abundant, with large colonies numbering several thousand butterflies on the wing! Whilst the male Chalkhill Blue is a pale powder-blue, the female is characteristically brown, with a row of orange spots around the wing edges. The foodplant of the Chalkhill Blue is (as for the Adonis Blue) horseshoe vetch, however the Chalkhill Blue favours slightly longer downland grass than the Adonis, and is more widespread.

When to see: There is one generation per year, with the flight period starting in early July, through until mid September. Early August is probably the optimum time to see this species in large numbers.

Where to see: There are several good sites in Hampshire including Stockbridge Down, Martin Down, Magdalen Hill Down, Yew Hill, Pilot Hill and Portsdown Hill. For sheer numbers however, Old Winchester Hill is the place to see this species. Estimates of the number of Chalkhill blues on the wing there in good years are in the low thousands! - with the butterflies taking to the wing in their dozens as one walks though the grass around the hillfort and surrounding slopes.

 

Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

Wingspan: ~29-35mm

By far the UK’s most widespread and commonest blue butterfly, which can be found on rough ground, downland, meadows and clover fields to woodland clearings - where its various foodplants grow. Its foodplants include bird’s foot trefoil, black medick and various clovers. The butterflies are active, making rapid but usually short flights from flower to flower. The females are predominantly brown, but with some blue scales radiating from the thorax, and orange spots (which can be quite indistinct) around the outer edges.

When to see: There are two generations per year, with the flight periods being from mid May until the end of June and again from late July until mid September.

Where to see: Almost all downland sites have very good colonies including Old Winchester Hill, Stockbridge Down, Magdalen Hill Down and Portsdown Hill. Noar Hill is also a good site.

 

Holly Blue - Celastrina argiolus

Wingspan:~27-35mm

The Holly Blue is a widespread species in most of England and Wales, but populations of the butterfly can be very variable due its vulnerability to parasitic wasps. As the name suggests it is a species associated with holly which is one of the the larval foodplants of the spring generation. This species is often encountered in one's or two's rather than in colonies, due to their habit of wandering, typical places being woodlands, hedgerows, parks, gardens and even churchyards. The female butterfly is pictured, the male is lacking the thick dark border on the forewings. The underside of the butterfly has few markings, giving the butterfly a distinctive appearance in flight compared to other 'blues'.

When to see: There are two generations per year. It is normally the first blue butterfly on the wing, the first generation emerging in early April through till late May, the second in late July, though until early September. In warm years there are sometimes a few records of third generation insects in Autumn.

Where to see: Since the butterfly can be encountered almost anywhere in the places described above, there should be no need to go far to see it in Hampshire. I have seen holly blues frequently at Noar Hill, on Portsdown Hill and in Whiteley Pastures as examples of different "natural" habitats, as opposed to parks and gardens.

 

Silver-studded Blue - Plebeius argus

Wingspan: ~26-33mm

The Silver-studded Blue is a very local species, which in the South is associated with heathland habitats but elsewhere can be found also on sand-dunes. Although local, where it is found it can be abundant. The males have a purplish blue upperside with brown outer edge, whereas the females are mainly brown on the upper surface. Unusually the males are often slightly larger than the females. The flight is low and fluttering rarely more tan a few yards. The larvae feed on the leaves of heather or cross-leaved heath but can also feed on bird’s foot trefoil and horseshoe vetch.

When to see: There is one generation per year from late June through until mid or late August, however the flight period can vary by a week or more according to site ecology.

Where to see: The butterfly is quite widespread on the New Forest heaths including Beaulieu Heath and Godshill. For a site which provides a lovely vistas of the forest landscape, Acres Down is recommended, although the butterflies are not so numerous there. There are also good sites outside the forest at Silchester Common and Yateley Common in the north of the county and also Broxhead Common in the east.

    

Small Blue - Cupido minimus

Wingspan: ~17-27mm

The Small Blue is our smallest species inhabiting rough grassy slopes often on chalk or limestone, sheltered grassy hollows and quarries, with a prerequisite for its larval foodplant - kidney vetch - to be in good supply. It is also is a very local species, colonies  being found in the same few square yards year after year and nowhere else for miles around. Sadly this lovely little butterfly is also in decline nationally.  If you have not seen Small Blue before you may be surprised just how small they are, especially the male – fresh ones being perfection in miniature. The male (shown in slides above) also has a dusting of blue scales close to the body which is absent in the females. The flight is slow and fluttering and when disturbed they usually fly around rather than away, but can still be difficult to follow because of their small size.

When to see: Two generations per year, the first commencing late May for about one month, the second smaller generation in early August, with a flight period of just 3 weeks.

Where to see:  Martin Down and Portsdown Hill are good sites with several meta-populations. There also a few other colonies in the county, some very small and vulnerable.

 

Small Copper - Lycaena phlaeas

Wingspan: ~25-36mm

An attractive and unusual butterfly with its bright copper-red colouring, the Small Copper is also widespread, facilitated by the variety of its habitats. These range from rough grassland, downs and meadows even to woodland glades and clearings, where its larval foodplants of the sorrel family can be found. The butterflies fly swiftly and directly but normally only a few yards at a time, the males sometimes returning to the same perch.

When to see: There are usually 3 generations per year, the first from early May until mid June, the second from early July until late August and the third in mid or late September lasting only about three weeks.

Where to see: The butterfly can be encountered at many sites but usually only in small numbers. Sites include Noar Hill, Botley Wood, Browndown (S), Portsdown Hill and Old Winchester Hill.