UK Butterflies - Adonis Blue - Lysandra bellargus

Wingspan
30 - 40mm

Adonis Blue

Lysandra bellargus

ly-SAN-druh
bell-AH-guss

Rottemburg, 1775

Ref: 1576

Superfamily:	Papilionoidea
Family:	Lycaenidae
Subfamily:	Lycaeninae
Genus:	Lysandra
Subgenus:
Species:	bellargus

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Introduction
Distribution
Annual Cycle
Habitat
Larval Foodplants
Nectar Sources

Imago
Ovum
Larva
Pupa
Similar Species
Videos

Sites
Conservation Status
Links
References


Male	Male Underside	Female	Female Underside

	Introduction

The Adonis Blue is a species of chalk downland, where it may be found in warm, sheltered spots. The male Adonis Blue has brilliantly-coloured blue wings that gives this butterfly its name, and can be found flying low over vegetation, seeking out the less-conspicuous females that are a rich chocolate brown in colour.

	Distribution

The distribution of this species follows the distribution of Horseshoe Vetch which, in turn, follows the distribution of chalk grassland. This species is therefore restricted to the south and east of England. This species lives in discrete colonies.

	Annual Cycle

There are two broods each year. The first adult emergence is in the second half of May, peaking at the end of May and beginning of June. The second adult emergence is in the second half of August, peaking at the end of August and beginning of September.

	Habitat

This is a warmth-loving species, preferring sheltered, south-facing slopes. This species is found where the turf is closely-cropped, possibly because it provides a higher temperature for the immature stages or because this is a requirement for the ant species that attend the Adonis Blue larva and pupa. The loss of grazing by rabbits, for example, causes the sward to become overgrown and can render a site unsuitable for this species.

	Larval Foodplants

The sole larval foodplant is Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa).

	Nectar Sources

The main nectar sources are Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) and Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea).

	Imago

The sexes are strongly dimorphic; the males being a magnificent electric blue, and the females being a chocolate brown. The adults live in concentrated colonies and appear to have limited powers of dispersal. However, on good sites, this species can be found by the hundred. This species can be found roosting communally at night.


Photo © Vince Massimo 02-Jun-2006	Photo © Pete Eeles 15-Aug-2006	Photo © Vince Massimo 22-May-2005	Photo © Gruditch 01-Sep-2007	Photo © Gwenhwyfar 31-May-2009

Photo © Pete Eeles 21-May-2008	Photo © Pete Eeles 31-May-2006	Photo © Mikhail	Photo © Pete Eeles 21-Aug-2006	Photo © Paul

Photo © Sussex Kipper 26-Aug-2007	Photo © Sussex Kipper 09-May-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 31-May-2006	Photo © Clive Burrows

	Aberrations

Although far more consistent in colour and marking than its close relative the Chalkhill Blue, the Adonis Blue is a considerably variable butterfly nonetheless.

In common with other members of the family, this species demonstrates much variation in the number, size and orientation of the underside spotting, ranging from the extremes of ab. Krodeli (absence of spotting to the underside) to heavily striated examples where the familiar spots are greatly extended into black streaks (ab. striata).

The blue of the male upperside can also vary; in some examples there is a distinctly green tint to the wings (ab. viridescens) while others are sometimes of a pale shade (ab. pallida). A grey-blue colouration is known as ab. suffusa and examples where the typical blue colour is replaced by a blue-black shade are known as ab. nigra.

The blue form of the female in which the blue scaling extends over the fore and hind wings obliterating the brown ground colour except along the costa and outer margins, and with orange lunules present on all wings is called ab. ceronus. Where the orange lunules are present on the hindwings only this is referred to as ab. semiceronus. The amount of blue on the female is subject to much variation and at first may appear random, with each 'blue female' appearing different from the next, however, once you start looking at these females closely you begin to see that the same traits do occur again and again, and all of a sudden the distribution of blue scales and development of the lunules is far from random but actually made up of a finite series of recognisable and repeating characteristics. It is these repeating characteristics that enables us to name these aberrations from descriptions made over a century ago. The blue aberrations of the female Adonis Blue are more frequently met with in the spring brood, suggesting an environmental trigger at the heart of these suffusions.

Very rarely this species is known to hybridise with it's close relative the Chalkhill Blue, resulting in specimens that bare traits from each species and a colouration that appears (in the male) to be half way between each species in their typical forms. This butterfly is traditionally known as ab. polonus, although being a hybrid it is not an aberration as such at all. Strictly speaking it should probably be known as bellargus x coridon. It is well worth looking out for this hybrid at sites where both species fly together. Polonus is encountered within the spring brood of Adonis Blue.

Gynandromorphs occur in this species but are rare. Occasionally female specimens will be found with strong streaks of male colouration on one or more wings (sexual mosaics or mixed gynandromorphs) and very rarely halved gynandromorphs are encountered where the butterfly exhibits male colouration on one side, and female colouration on the other, even on the abdomen.

There are 109 named aberrations known to occur in Britain; a selection are described below.


Photo © Vince Massimo 19-May-2008	Photo © Vince Massimo 20-May-2008	Photo © Vince Massimo 26-May-2005	Photo © Pete Eeles 21-Aug-2006	ab. krodeli Photo © Graham Smith

ab. semiceronus Photo © Graham Smith	Photo © Graham Smith	Photo © Graham Smith	ab. krodeli Photo © Graham Smith	Photo © Graham Smith

ab. krodeli Photo © Graham Smith	ab. conjunta Photo © Graham Smith	Photo © Mark Pike	Photo © Mark Pike

ab. albicincta (Tutt)

Occurs in the female. Upperside discoidal mark edged with white.

ab. albo-ocellata (Tutt)

Occurs on the underside. Underside spots white without black centres. The spots are all 'blind'.

ab. argentea (Tutt)

Occurs in the male. Upperside silver-grey.

ab. caerulescens (Tutt)

Occurs in the female. Upperside forewings blue from the base to beyond the discoidal spot. On the hindwings the blue extends from the centre to the orange marginal lunules. Orange lunules on the hindwings only.

ab. caerulescens-marginata (Tutt)

Occurs in the female. As caerulescens but with orange lunules on all four wings.

ab. coelestis (Oberthur)

Occurs in the female. All four wings entirely blue including the margins, costa and veins. Orange lunules on all four wings.

ab. cuneo-lunulata (Tutt)

Occurs in the female. Blue scaling at base of fore and hindwings. Orange lunules externally edged with blue. Blue wedges present on the internal edges of the lunules which are well developed on the hindwings.

ab. czekelii (Aigner)

Occurs in the male. Upperside blue-grey.

ab. excelsia (Tutt)

Occurs in the male. Upperside iridescent pearl-blue.

ab. flavescens (Tutt, 1909)

Occurs in the female. Female with marginal lunules yellow not the usual orange.

ab. inita (Tutt)

Occurs on the underside. Marginal chevrons grey instead of red.

ab. krodeli (Gillmor)

Occurs on the underside. On the underside of all wings the spots are entirely absent except for the discoidals.

ab. lallemandi (Pionneau)

Occurs in the female. As coelestis but with absence of any orange marginal lunules.

ab. nigrescens (Tutt)

Occurs in the female. Upperside blackish in colour.

ab. obsoleta (Tutt)

Occurs on the underside. Underside spots tending to obsolescence.

ab. pallida (Mosley)

Occurs in the male. Upperside pale lavender.

ab. puncta (Tutt)

Occurs in the male. Upperside hindwings with a row of well defined small black spots above the margin.

ab. subtus-impunctata (Oberthur)

Occurs on the underside. On the underside of the forewings the spots are small and reduced in number. On the hindwings the spots are entirely absent.

ab. suffusa (Tutt)

Occurs in the male. Upperside dark leaden-blue.

	Ovum

Eggs are laid singly, typically on the underside of terminal leaves of the foodplant. A preference is shown for small sprigs of foodplant growing in short turf. Eggs laid in May or June hatch in a week or two, whereas those laid in August and September can take several weeks longer.

Adonis Blue - ovum - Godlingstone Hill - 90 [Tim Norriss]

	Larva

The larvae are green with yellow stripes running along the length of the body. Unlike its close relative, the Chalkhill Blue, the larva of the Adonis Blue feeds by day. The larva has a Newcomer's gland in the 7th segment which provides secretions that are attractive to ants. This is a symbiotic relationship for, like many other blues, the Adonis Blue larva (and pupa) is afforded protection by the ants from parasites and other predators.

Early instars feed by grazing on one side of the leaf, leaving the epidermis of the other side intact. When not feeding, the larva rests at the base of the foodplant, often on bare soil. Ants are known to bury the larva in a cell in the earth, where the ants continue to "milk" it for secretions. If not overwintering, this stage lasts around a month.


Photo © Gwenhwyfar 26-Jul-2008	Photo © Pete Eeles 04-Sep-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 08-Sep-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 08-Sep-2007

	Pupa

The pupa is formed on the ground, often in a small hollow or crevice. Ants are known to bury the pupa in a chamber in the earth that is connected to the ants' nest, where it is constantly attended by ants. This stage lasts around 3 weeks.

Adonis Blue - pupa - Thatcham - 06-Oct-04 [REARED]

	Similar Species

Brown Argus

Description to be completed

Chalkhill Blue

The female Adonis Blue is easily mistaken for a female Chalkhill Blue. Distinguishing the two is not at all easy. One guideline is that the pale scales on the hindwings, between the red dots and the white fringe, are blue in a female Adonis Blue, and white in a female Chalkhill Blue.


Female Adonis Blue	Female Chalkhill Blue

Common Blue

The male Adonis Blue is often mistaken for a male Common Blue. However, the two can be distinguished by looking at the white fringes of the wings. Only on the Adonis Blue do the fringes contain black bands.


Male Adonis Blue	Male Common Blue

Northern Brown Argus

Description to be completed

	Videos

Videos can be played back using either RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. Click here to obtain a free RealPlayer or free Windows Media Player.

	Sites

Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.

Rating	Sites
	Butts Brow, Durlston Country Park, Fontmell Down, Malling Down, Martin Down
	Darlands Banks LNR, Denbies Hillside, Lydden Down, Mill Hill, Old Winchester Hill, West Yatton Down
	Hartslock


Not rated	Ballard Down, Bindon Hill, Bonchurch Down, Broughton Down, Castle Hill NNR, Cerne Hill Giant, Cheriton Hill, Clubmen's Down, Colekitchen Down, Compton Down, Coombe Bisset Down, Corfe Castle, Devils Dyke, Hambledon Hill, Hod Hill, Hog Cliff Bottom, Jerry's Hole, Lankham Bottom, Larden Chase, Middleton Down, Osmington, Portland Tout Quarry, Seven Sisters Country Park, Sovell Down, Stonehill Down, Stubhampton Bottom, Townsend Quarry, Wolstonbury Hill, Yoesden Bank

	Conservation Status

This butterfly is dependent on unimproved calcareous grassland and has suffered from both loss of habitat as well as inappropriate habitat management. It is therefore considered a species of conservation concern.

UK BAP Status	Distribution Trend	Population Trend
Species of Conservation Concern

From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).

	Links

The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.

	References

The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:

A Natural History of British Butterflies, by F.W.Frohawk.
British and Irish Butterflies, by Adrian M. Riley
South's British Butterflies, by T.G.Howarth (which is based extensively on the classic work, "The Butterflies of the British Isles", by Richard South).
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, by Jeremy Thomas and Richard Lewington.
The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, by Jim Asher, Martin Warren, Richard Fox, Paul Harding, Gail Jeffcoate, Stephen Jeffcoate.
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 7 (1) Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae (the Butterflies), by A. Maitland Emmet and John Heath (editors).
The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, Richard Fox, Jim Asher, Tom Brereton, David Roy and Martin Warren.