Friday, 3 September, 2010 homebutterfliesmothseventspressrecordingprojectsreservemembershipmagazinedownloadaboutcontactlinks Butterflies of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Common Blue Polyommatus icarus Not as 'common' as the name suggests, although some colonies still support large numbers. The bright blue males are most easily seen while the brown or brown/blue females are more secretive in behavior. A visit to a known colony late in the evening or during sunset provides the best opportunity to see this butterflt close-up as they tend to roost in groups on a dried grass stem, facing down, wings closed but one side face on to the sun to absorb as much heat as possible before the sun finally sets. Larval Food plants Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) Black Medick (Medicago lupulina) White Clover (Trifolium repens) Lesser Trefoil (Trifolium dubium) Habitat Requirements The Common Blue is found in a variety of grassy habitats, particularly where the larval foodplants can be found in sunny sheltered positions such as roadside verges, woodland clearings, disused railway lines, quarries and post-industrial brownfield sites. Warwickshire Status Resident Where to see the Common Blue Draycote Meadows (WWT Reserve) Shadowbrook Meadow (WWT Reserve) Loxley Church Meadow (WWT Reserve) Stockton Cutting (WWT Reserve) Goldicote Cutting (WWT Reserve) Henley Sidings (WWT Reserve) Other Species Please select an alternative species from the list below. Bath White Black Hairstreak Black-veined White Brimstone Brown Argus Brown Hairstreak Camberwell Beauty Chalkhill Blue Chequered Skipper Clouded Yellow Comma Common Blue Dappled White Dark Green Fritillary Dingy Skipper Duke of Burgundy Essex Skipper Gatekeeper Geranium Bronze Green Hairstreak Green-veined White Grizzled Skipper High Brown Fritillary Holly Blue Large Skipper Large Tortoiseshell Large White Long-tailed Blue Map Marbled White Marsh Fritillary Mazarine Blue Meadow Brown Orange-tip Painted Lady Pale Clouded Yellow Peacock Pearl-bordered Fritillary Purple Emperor Purple Hairstreak Red Admiral Ringlet Silver-studded Blue Silver-washed Fritillary Small Blue Small Copper Small Heath Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary Small Skipper Small Tortoiseshell Small White Speckled Wood Swallowtail Wall Brown White Admiral White-letter Hairstreak Wood White © John Carter - Male First Sightings First sighting dates are based on records of Common Blue submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms. 15/05/2010 - Southam Bypass North 02/05/2009 - Tesco's, Warwick 26/04/2008 - Bucks Hill, Nuneaton 27/04/2007 - Malpass Site, Rugby © John Carter - Female   © John Harris - Male Adult Flight Times The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Common Blue in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green. Warwickshire Distribution Maps base on Vice County (CV38) which includes Coventry and Solihull Distribution of the Common Blue during the indicated period. Key to Warwickshire Maps: sightings 12-910+       2007 Distribution Data (1yr)   2008 available soon   2009 Distribution Data (1yr)   2000-09 Distribution Data (10yr) © Butterfly Conservation WarwickshirePrivacy and Copyright Statement Butterfly Conservation is a non-profit-making company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468) Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)   Web site designed and maintained by Steven Cheshire