Females brown with row of red spots. Undersides brown-grey with black spots, a row of orange spots, and small greenish flecks on outer margin. Males similar to Common Blue, which lacks greenish spots.
Strong colonies in The New Forest and other parts of Hampshire Dorset and Berkshire, Also on The Great Ormes Head in North Wales and the North Stack in Anglesey. Conlonies are also present in some parts of Suffork and East Anglia Another small colony also survives near Whitchurch in Shropshire and is believed to be the only surviving population of the sub species Masseyii that was once common on the mosses and Heaths of Lancashire, Cheshire and Westmoreland. Update 18/02/2007
This small butterfly is found mainly in heathland where the silvery-blue wings of the males provide a marvellous sight as they fly low over the heather. The females are brown and far less conspicuous but, like the male, have distinct metallic spots on the hindwing. In late afternoon the adults often congregate to roost on sheltered bushes or grass tussocks. The Silver-studded Blue has a restricted distribution but occurs in large numbers in suitable heathland and coastal habitats. It has undergone a major decline through most of its range.
Stable or increasing in some places, declining elsewhere.
The larva are dependant upon being "farmed" for sugary secretions by ants and will ussuall die if not tended and cleaned by the ants.
