Brown Argus

Name: Brown Argus

Scientific name: Aricia agestis

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 60

What are nature stars?

About: A small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 3cm. Adults fly throughout the summer between April and October. A dainty little butterfly that likes warm sunny places, adults commonly feed on common rock-rose, which is also the caterpillar's food plant, together with crane's-bills. Found in dry, sunny habitats, including heathland, woodland edges, waste ground and downland. Seems to be expanding its range as the climate warms up.

How to identify: A smart little butterfly, bronzy-brown above with an orange band across the edge of each wing. Very similar to female Common Blue, but tends to be smaller and smarter, with no hint of blue.

Where: Found across southern and central England and parts of the Welsh coast.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 50
• Cute factor: 40
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: A very close relative, the Northern Brown Argus, is found in northern England and Scotland.

Photograph credit: Keith Warmington/www.warmies.co.uk