Adonis Blue
Encyclopedia
The Adonis Blue is a butterfly
in the family Lycaenidae
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(grasslands) has been disappearing or becoming coarse and shady through a lack of grazing. There are great efforts from conservation organisations and local Biodiversity Action Plans to encourage the populations of chalk-grassland butterflies through managed grazing programs. The recent hot and dry weather associated with climate change seems to be beneficial for this species by making more habitats suitable.
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the family Lycaenidae
Lycaenidae
The Lycaenidae are the second-largest family of butterflies, with about 6000 species worldwide, whose members are also called gossamer-winged butterflies...
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Habitat
The preferred habitat of the adonis blue is calcareous grasslands with hot and dry conditions.Species decline
The Adonis Blue has been rapidly declining because its habitatHabitat (ecology)
A habitat is an ecological or environmental area that is inhabited by a particular species of animal, plant or other type of organism...
(grasslands) has been disappearing or becoming coarse and shady through a lack of grazing. There are great efforts from conservation organisations and local Biodiversity Action Plans to encourage the populations of chalk-grassland butterflies through managed grazing programs. The recent hot and dry weather associated with climate change seems to be beneficial for this species by making more habitats suitable.
Other
The male upper side is a brilliant sky blue. The female is chocolate brown with a few blue scales near the base, and with orange spots, bordered by blue scales, around the edge of the hindwing. Look for the chequered fringes in both sexes. The underside is brownish grey with black and oranges spots. Winter is passed as a small caterpillar.- Size: 17mm
- Habitat: Flowery hillsides on chalk and limestone.
- Foodplant: Horseshoe VetchHorseshoe VetchHippocrepis comosa, known as Horseshoe Vetch, is a flowering plant. It is the sole food of the butterfly species Polyommatus coridon, or the Chalkhill Blue....
. - Range: S&C Europe, as far as S England.
- Flight: May-September, in two broods.
- Similar: Female Chalkhill blue is usually.