 Wingspan
25 - 31mm |
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Brown Argus
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Aricia agestis
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Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775 |
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Ref: 1572 |
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| Superfamily: | Papilionoidea |
| Family: | Lycaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Lycaeninae |
| Genus: | Aricia |
| Subgenus: | |
| Species: | agestis |
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Male |
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Male Underside |
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Female |
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Female Underside |
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Unlike most other "blues", the Brown Argus has no blue scales on its upperside, both sexes being primarily brown in colour as its common name suggests, although the butterfly does exhibit a blue sheen when at certain angles to the light. Both sexes have beautiful orange spots on the upperside of both forewings and hindwings.
This species occurs in small, compact colonies, and is not a great wanderer, only travelling a couple of hundred metres, at most, from where it emerged.
This species generally has 2 broods a year in central and southern England, with only a partial second brood in north Wales and the north of England. In good years, a partial 3rd generation may appear in the south. The adults emerge first in central and southern England in early May, peaking at the end of May and beginning of June, and giving rise to a second brood that emerges at the end of July. In north Wales and northern England, the first emergence starts in early June with any second brood appearing in early August. 
Colonies are typically found on chalk or limestone downland where the foodplant is abundant. However, this species can also be found on heathland and in open woodland.
The primary larval foodplant is Common Rock-rose (Helianthemum nummularium). Common Stork's-bill (Erodium cicutarium) and Dove's-foot Crane's-bill (Geranium molle) are also used.
Adults feed primarily on Marjoram (Origanum vulgare), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Thyme (Thymus polytrichus) and White Clover (Trifolium repens).
This is a warmth-loving species and, as such, is often found in sheltered areas or on south-facing slopes. When courting, the males congregate at the base of a slope where they either perch, waiting for a virgin female to fly by, or patrol the area looking for a female perched on a grass stem awaiting a mate. Mating takes place after a short flight low to the ground. When egg-laying, the female will make meandering flight close to the ground, searching out suitable foodplants on which to lay. Like its close relative, the Common Blue, this species will roost communally on grass stems at night. In fact, the two species are sometimes found roosting together.
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This was the first ever Brown Argus reported on this site.
Photo © Vince Massimo
06-Aug-2006 |
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Description to be completed
Eggs are laid singly, typically on the underside of a leaf of the foodplant, close to the midrib. Eggs hatch after about a week.
The newly-emerged larva eats the underside of the leaf, but without breaking through the upper surface. The resulting patches are visible from above which can give away the presence of a larva underneath the leaf. More mature larvae feed more openly and are often given away by the presence of the ants that are in attendance. In the last instar, the larva develops Newcomer's glands that exude a secretion that is highly attractive to ants. The association with ants affords the larva some protection against parasites and predators. Larvae of the generation that overwinters generally do so while in their 3rd instar. The larva moults 4 times in total.
The pupa is formed on the ground at the base of the foodplant. However, pupae are often carried away by ants and buried in a cell in the earth.
Description to be completed
Description to be completed
The Brown Argus and Common Blue can be differentiated from their undersides, since the Brown Argus lacks a spot on the underside of the forewing that is present in the Common Blue.
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| Brown Argus |
Common Blue |
The Brown Argus and female Common Blue can be difficult to tell apart from their uppersides. However, the Brown Argus is completely lacking in blue scales, but may have a blue sheen. The highly-variable female Common Blue, on the other hand, always has some blue scaling, especially close to the body.
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| Brown Argus |
Common Blue (female) |
Description to be completed
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below. |
 | Fontmell Down, Penhale Dunes |  | Aston Rowant NNR, Bedfont Lakes Country Park LNR, Cerne Hill Giant, Denbies Hillside, Devils Ditch, Eakring Meadows Nature Reserve, Magdalen Hill Down, Malling Down, Martin Down, West Yatton Down |  | Bannerdown, Barnack Hills and Holes NNR, Black Rock, Braunton Burrows, Broughton Down, Butts Brow, Carymoor Environmental Centre, Durlston Country Park, Ellerburn Bank, Old Winchester Hill, Prestbury Hill, Somerford Common, St Catherine's Hill, Stockbridge Down |  | Collard Hill, Crook Peak, Greenham Common, Hartslock, Mill Hill |  | Banstead Downs | | Not rated | Ardley Quarry, Arreton Down, Ashampstead Common, Aspal Close, Aston Upthorpe Downs, Avon Heath Country Park, Badbury Rings, Ballard Down, Barton Hills, Bingham Linear Park, Bison Hill, Bolt Head, Brackett's Coppice, Branscombe, Brean Down, Brigstock, Burham Down, Castle Hill NNR, Clubmen's Down, College Lake, Corfe Castle, Deepdale, Devils Dyke, Ditchling Beacon, Draycott Sleights, Duchie's Piece, Duncliffe Woods, Eaglehead Copse, Eyarth Rocks, Fackenden Downs, Forest of Dean, Goblin Combe, Grangelands, Great Orme, Greenhill Down, Hadleigh Country Park, Ham Common, Hethfelton Wood, Hinkley Point Nature Reserve, Hod Hill, Hog Cliff Bottom, Hounslow Heath LNR, Howardian Local Nature Reserve, Jerry's Hole, Kemsing Downs, Kingcombe Stones, Lankham Bottom, Larden Chase, Lathkill Dale, Levin Down, Llanymynech Rocks, Lorton Meadows, Lydlinch Common, Monk's Wood, Moors Valley Country Park, Mumbles Hill, Oxwich, Pamphill Moor, Pewsey Down, Piddles Wood, Pitstone Hill, Powerstock Common, Ringstead Bay, Sand Point, Seven Barrows, Shapwick Heath, Sovell Down, St Catherine's Hill, Stoke Camp, Stubhampton Bottom, Tadnoll, The Trundle, Therfield Heath, Thorndon Country Park, Thurlbear Quarrylands, Tickenham Ridge, Townsend Quarry, Tyttenhanger Gravel Pits, Walton Common, Whitford Burrows, Wicken Fen, Windmill Hill and Cleeve Prior, Yew Hill |
Both distribution and population trends show an increase and this butterfly is not, therefore, currently a species of conservation concern. |
| Not Listed |  | |
From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
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.
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