Holly Blue

Name: Holly Blue

Scientific name: Celastrina argiolus

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 40

What are nature stars?

About: A small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 3cm. Adults fly in the spring, from March to May, and then again at the end of the summer between July and September. A bright blue butterfly with silvery underwings. This is the blue butterfly most likely to be found in gardens, as well as woodlands, parks and churchyards, where ever the foodplant is found. Caterpillars feed on ivy and holly.

How to identify: Smaller than the very rare Large Blue and a lot larger than the tiny Small Blue. Easily told from all the other blues by the silvery underside with small black spots, completely lackingin orange spots.

Where: Found in England, Wales and scattered places in Northern Ireland, but absent from Scotland.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 70
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: Holly Blue populations fluctuate enormously from year to year: will this year be a Holly Blue year?

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