Silver-studded Blue

Plebejus argus

The Silver-studded Blue is a small butterfly with beautiful blue wings and tiny silver dots. They love to flit around flowers and are often found in sunny spots.

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The Silver-studded Blue is a small butterfly with males displaying vibrant sky-blue wings, while females are brown with orange spots and a subtle blue wash. Both sexes feature a distinctive row of metallic 'silver studs' along the edges of their hindwings, making them unique.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaLycaenidaeGéneroPlebejus

Silver-studded Blue

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Adult butterflies have taste buds on their feet to find the sweetest flower nectar.

Males display bright blue wings when flying, but often hide them when resting to camouflage.

Some female butterflies lay eggs that perfectly mimic plant seeds to hide them from hungry birds.

Their caterpillars actually 'talk' to ants using tiny vibrations and chemical signals!

Habilidades especiales

Silver-studded Blue larvae can secrete a sweet liquid that attracts and rewards ants, protecting them from predators.

Silver-studded Blue butterflies have specialized dark scales that help them absorb sunlight efficiently, warming them for flight.

Silver-studded Blue males have tiny scales that release a special perfume to attract females from a distance.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 25-35 mm
Tamaño: 10-14 mm
Esperanza de vida: 14-21 días
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

Adults sip flower nectar; caterpillars munch on plants.

Diferencias por edad: Larvae feed on leaves and flowers of host plants, while adults primarily consume nectar from various wildflowers.

Alimentos principales

Lotus corniculatus
Calluna vulgaris
Erica cinerea
Thymus polytrichus

Método de búsqueda

Foraging

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Common Bird's-foot Trefoil

Lotus corniculatus

A primary larval food plant.

eaten by

Common Heather

Calluna vulgaris

Another significant host plant for caterpillars.

symbiotic with

Black Garden Ant

Lasius niger

Ants protect larvae for their sugary secretions.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

A common bird predator of adult butterflies.

Rasgos

Social

Los animales sociales viven en grupos organizados, cooperando para obtener beneficios de supervivencia como la búsqueda de alimento, la defensa y la cría de descendencia.