# Northern Blue (*Plebejus idas*) The Northern Blue is a beautiful butterfly with bright blue wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in sunny places during the warm months. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands ![Northern Blue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Lycaeidas_idas_01_%28HS%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Harald Süpfle, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lycaeidas_idas_01_%28HS%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Blue is a small, iridescent butterfly with males showcasing brilliant sky-blue upperwings bordered by thin black. Females are more variable, often brownish with some blue and sometimes orange spots. Its underside is grey-brown with distinct white-ringed black spots. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Lycaenidae - **Genus:** Lycaeides ## Interesting facts - Look closely: the underside of their wings has white-ringed black dots! - Male Northern Blues flash bright, iridescent blue wings in the sun! - Their tiny caterpillars offer sweet 'honeydew' as a treat for protective ants! - They are often spotted fluttering near their favorite pea-family plants in meadows. ## Special abilities - **Ant Guardian:** Northern Blue larvae can produce sweet honeydew to attract ants that protect them from predators. - **Underwing Camo:** This butterfly has patterned undersides that help it blend perfectly into its natural habitat when resting. - **Nectar Navigator:** Northern Blues possess excellent sight and smell to locate flower patches for essential energy. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 25-35 mm - **Size:** 10-15 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 8 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on plants from the pea family, while adults sip nectar from flowers. - **Age differences:** Caterpillars eat plant leaves; adults drink flower nectar for energy. - **Primary Foods:** Flower nectar, Bird's-foot Trefoil leaves, Clover leaves, Milk-vetch leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Bird's-foot Trefoil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/birds-foot-trefoil) (*Lotus corniculatus*) — Larvae feed on its leaves for growth. - **Symbiotic with:** Red Wood Ant (*Formica rufa*) — Ants protect larvae in exchange for sweet honeydew. - **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Adults drink nectar, helping to spread pollen between flowers. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — A common bird that preys on butterflies and their larvae. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [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 Be gentle and quiet around butterflies so you don't scare them away. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern 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 Northern Blue's wingspan? 25-35 mm ### How big is Northern Blue? 10-15 mm ### How long does Northern Blue live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Northern Blue fly? 8 km/h ### What does Northern Blue eat? Caterpillars munch on plants from the pea family, while adults sip nectar from flowers. ### Where is Northern Blue usually found? Grasslands ### How does Northern Blue hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Cut Bank Ranger Station Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cut-bank-ranger-station-historic-district) — Montana, US · Historic District ## 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: [Northern Blue: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-blue)