Is this a Silver Studded Blue?

[tigger]

Just wondered whether anyone could ID this butterfly for me. It looks like a blue - but not sure if it is a Silver Studded Blue.

Photographed on my local heath in Dorset

Cheers. Jane

[GuyF]

Hi Jane,
This is a Common Blue, the second brood is just on the wing now and so most are in pristine condition, like your individual. There will still be a few Silver-studded Blues on the wing, but by now they will mostly be looking very worn and faded unfortunately.
Guy

[tigger]

Thanks Guy. Is there an easy way of telling the two apart (other than condition?)

[GuyF]

In males the wings have a fairly thick dark border on the upperside, whereas in Common Blues this border is much thinner. They usually appear to be darker blue in colour than Common Blues, and they often look noticeably smaller, although both these may be difficult to judge if you're just looking at one butterfly.
It's probably easier if you can see the underside, where the blue scales in the black spots towards the margin of the hindwing (the silver-studs!) are diagnostic.
It's best to look for them in late June, they can be found on most of the heaths around here and they're very nice little butterflies.
Guy

[tigger]

Many thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. I'll schedule it for next June!!

Jane

[Bill S]

Originally Posted by tigger

Many thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. I'll schedule it for next June!!

Jane

Definitely worth making the effort Jane. Once you see the blue "jewels" in the hindwing underside, there is no mistaking it. Unusually the females tend to have more blue than the males.



Bill