# Chalkhill Blue (*Polyommatus coridon*) The Chalkhill Blue is a beautiful butterfly with bright blue wings. It loves to flutter around sunny meadows and is often seen resting on flowers. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Chalkhill Blue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Chalkhill_blue_butterflies_%28Polyommatus_coridon%29_mating_2.jpg&width=800) Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chalkhill_blue_butterflies_%28Polyommatus_coridon%29_mating_2.jpg) ## Appearance The Chalkhill Blue butterfly has a striking appearance with strong sexual dimorphism. Males boast iridescent sky-blue wings with a chalky sheen and a white fringe, while females have brown wings adorned with orange spots along the edges and sometimes a dusting of blue near the body. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Lysandra ## Interesting facts - Male Chalkhill Blues get their incredible blue color from how light bounces off their scales, not from blue pigment! - The Chalkhill Blue gets its name because it loves to live in sunny, chalky grassland areas. - Their caterpillars are super sneaky; they release a sweet liquid to 'pay' ants for protection! - You can only find adult Chalkhill Blue butterflies flying for a few weeks each summer! ## Special abilities - **Grass Blender:** Chalkhill Blue females have brown wings that help them blend perfectly with dry grasses to avoid being seen by predators. - **Sun Seeker:** Chalkhill Blues can bask in the sun to warm their bodies, which gives them the energy needed to fly and find mates. - **Scent Sniffer:** Chalkhill Blues have feathery antennae that help them detect the faint scent of flowers and other butterflies from far away. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 32-44 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink nectar from flowers; caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big and strong. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat leaves of Horseshoe Vetch; adults drink flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Horseshoe Vetch leaves, Thistle nectar, Wild Marjoram nectar, Knapweed nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** Horseshoe Vetch (*Hippocrepis comosa*) — Larvae feed exclusively on its leaves. - **Symbiotic with:** Red Ant (*Myrmica sabuleti*) — Ants protect caterpillars for a sugary reward. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds, like tits, prey on these butterflies. - **Pollinates:** Wild Marjoram (*Origanum vulgare*) — Adults visit flowers for nectar, spreading pollen. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance and don't try to catch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Chalkhill Blue? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Chalkhill Blue's wingspan? 32-44 mm ### How big is Chalkhill Blue? 15-20 mm ### How long does Chalkhill Blue live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Chalkhill Blue fly? 12 km/h ### What does Chalkhill Blue eat? Adults drink nectar from flowers; caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big and strong. ### Where is Chalkhill Blue usually found? Grasslands ### How does Chalkhill Blue hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Naturpark Eichsfeld-Hainich-Werratal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naturpark-eichsfeld-hainich-werratal) — Thüringen, DE · Park - [Picos de Europa National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/picos-de-europa-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Chalkhill Blue: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/chalkhill-blue)