Brown Argus Butterfly

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Primary Image
Brown Argus - Aricia agestis.jpg
Scientific Name: 
Aricia agestis
Wingspan: 
28 mm (1 1/8 in)
Description: 
The ground colour is a rich chocolate brown with a single black spot on each of the forewings, bordered with a row of orange spots and edged with a white fringe. The underwing is greyish brown with orange spots around the margins and the hindwing has a white streak.
Distribution: 

Range expanding.

This small butterfly is characteristic of southern chalk and limestone grassland but occurs in a variety of other open habitats as far north as north Wales and Yorkshire. It is a close relative of the Northern Brown Argus, which is restricted to Scotland and northern England.

Habitat: 
The butterfly's traditional habitats are chalk and limestone grassland, but it also occurs in a range of other habitats with disturbed soils, including: coastal grassland and dunes, woodland clearings, heathland, disused railway lines, road verges, and more recently set-aside fields. Sheltered sites or slopes facing south or west are preferred.
Diet: 
Common Rock-rose is used almost exclusively on calcareous grassland. In other habitats it uses annual foodplants, mainly Dove's-foot Crane's-bill and Common Stork's-bill. There are also recent reports of egg-laying on Cut-leaved Crane's-bill, Meadow Crane's-bill, and Hedgerow Crane's-bill.
Status: 
  • UK BAP status: not listed
  • Butterfly Conservation priority: low
  • European threat status: not threatened
Did You Know?: 
Very often mistaken for the female Common Blue.