Silver-studded Blues (Plebejus argus subsp. argus) in Shropshire

July 6, 2013:
Following a poor Spring, these butterflies were late emerging at this heathland site near Whitchurch but now the hot weather had arrived they were present in large numbers. They are of the subspecies argus.

Clumps of heather and raised hummocks with Lotus corniculatus were the favoured habitats. The males are bright blue above, edged with black and with undersides silvery grey. The females are mainly drab brown above with a brownish sheen apparent on the underside. Both sexes have well marked underside lunules with varying amouts of the silver studs visible.

A mixture of male and females are shown below.