Small Blue

Cupido minimus

The Small Blue is a tiny butterfly with beautiful blue wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in sunny places during spring and summer.

Hábitat: Grasslands

Aspecto

The Small Blue is the UK's smallest butterfly, with a wingspan of only 16-27mm. Its upperwings are often plain dusky brown with a subtle blue sheen, especially in males. The underside is distinctive light grey, dotted with small black spots, lacking any orange markings.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloArthropodaClaseInsectaOrdenLepidopteraFamiliaLycaenidaeGéneroCupido

Small Blue

Categoría

Insectos

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

Adult Small Blues barely eat, living off food stored as caterpillars.

It's the smallest butterfly species found in the United Kingdom!

Males and females of this tiny butterfly look almost identical.

They only fly for a few short weeks each year.

Habilidades especiales

Small Blue larvae secrete sweet honeydew that attracts ants, which then protect them from predators.

Small Blue caterpillars are tiny, slug-shaped, and camouflaged, helping them blend perfectly with their host plant.

Small Blue butterflies lay eggs only on Kidney Vetch, ensuring caterpillars have the perfect food source.

Medidas y detalles

Envergadura: 16-27 mm
Tamaño: 8-10 mm
Esperanza de vida: 5-10 días
Cantidad de patas: 6

Dieta y alimentación

As caterpillars, they munch on flowers and seeds; adults sip nectar for quick energy!

Diferencias por edad: Larvae eat flowers and seeds of specific host plants. Adults primarily sip nectar from various flowers.

Alimentos principales

Anthyllis vulneraria (Kidney Vetch) flowers
Anthyllis vulneraria (Kidney Vetch) seeds
nectar from various small wildflowers

Conexiones ecológicas

eaten by

Kidney Vetch

Anthyllis vulneraria

Larvae feed exclusively on its flowers and seeds

symbiotic with

Common Black Ant

Lasius niger

Ants protect larvae in exchange for honeydew

eaten by

Eurasian Blue Tit

Cyanistes caeruleus

Common bird that preys on butterflies

pollinates

Wild Thyme

Thymus serpyllum

Adults visit small flowers for nectar, aiding pollination

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.