Adonis Blue
Arguably the most beautifully coloured British blue butterfly, although this underside view does not do it justice. Its beauty is reflected in the name Adonis, the beautiful youth in Greek mythology. The name bellargus is a bit of an oxymoron; bella meaning beautiful, whereas Argus was the creature with a hundred eyes.
Adonis Blues are restricted to warm chalk or limestone hillsides in the south of England. Always much rarer than the Chalkhill Blue, although its numbers have increased in recent years. Their caterpillars feed on Horseshoe Vetch on short-cropped turf. I photographed this male on some downland near Folkestone in Kent during my recent trip south.
Adonis Blue
Arguably the most beautifully coloured British blue butterfly, although this underside view does not do it justice. Its beauty is reflected in the name Adonis, the beautiful youth in Greek mythology. The name bellargus is a bit of an oxymoron; bella meaning beautiful, whereas Argus was the creature with a hundred eyes.
Adonis Blues are restricted to warm chalk or limestone hillsides in the south of England. Always much rarer than the Chalkhill Blue, although its numbers have increased in recent years. Their caterpillars feed on Horseshoe Vetch on short-cropped turf. I photographed this male on some downland near Folkestone in Kent during my recent trip south.