Wednesday 22 April 2020

Day 31: Holly Blue Butterfly


Only my second recorded butterfly that has landed in the garden so far this year, this little holly blue caught my, it's pale wings catching the morning sun.

I'm not completely sure, but it appears to have it's proboscis extended. I had recently watered the garden, so could it be 'drinking'?

The holly blue is the earliest emerging blue butterfly, and is the most likely blue butterfly to be spotted in gardens. The caterpillars of this butterfly feed on holly in the spring, and ivy in the summer, although they may use other plants too. We don't have either of these species in the garden, but there is plenty nearby. We should soon have plenty of nectar-rich plants available for the adults, so hopefully we will see more as spring continues.

References:
https://butterfly-conservation.org/butterflies/holly-blue (accessed 22/04/2020)
https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/invertebrates/butterflies/holly-blue (accessed 22/04/2020)

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