Friday, 3 September, 2010 homebutterfliesmothseventspressrecordingprojectsreservemembershipmagazinedownloadaboutcontactlinks Butterflies of Warwickshire, Coventry and Solihull Holly Blue Celastrina argiolus The Holly Blue is frequently seen in suburban gardens where its larval foodplants (Holly and Ivy) occur. The adult Holly Blue emerges early in spring, well before any other blue butterflies. Unlike other blues, the Holly Blue tends to fly high up around trees and bushes in full sunlight. The males can sometimes be found at ground level taking salts from dried up puddles in summer. In flight, these butterflies have a silvery appearance. Larval Food plants Holly (Ilex aquifolium) eggs laid and larvae feed on developing flower buds and berries of holy in the spring - April to June. Ivy (Hedera helix) eggs laid and larvae feed on developing flower buds and berries of Ivy in the autumn - August to September. Habitat Requirements Can be found almost anywhere, even in city centres but gardens, public parks, disused railway lines, hedgerows, field margins and woodland rides where both Ivy and Holly (the larval foodplant) can be found are the best places to find this butterfly. Warwickshire Status Resident Where to see the Holly Blue Swift Valley (WWT Reserve) Hampton Wood and Meadow (WWT Reserve) Harbury Spoilbank (WWT Reserve) Stockton Cutting (WWT Reserve) Welches Meadow (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 © Steven Cheshire First Sightings First sighting dates are based on records of Holly Blue submitted online. Please note that these dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms. 13/04/2010 - Hillmorton, Rugby. (Garden 174) 03/04/2009 - Middleton Hall 16/04/2008 - Wolston 06/04/2007 - Focus Optics, Corley © John Carter - Female 1st Brood   © Steven Cheshire Adult Flight Times The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Holly 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 Holly 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