# 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.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Small Blue](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cupido_minimus_male_2.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Charles J. Sharp, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cupido_minimus_male_2.jpg)

## Appearance

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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Lepidoptera
- **Family:** Lycaenidae
- **Genus:** Cupido

## Interesting facts

- 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.

## Special abilities

- **Ant Friendship:** Small Blue larvae secrete sweet honeydew that attracts ants, which then protect them from predators.
- **Masters of Disguise:** Small Blue caterpillars are tiny, slug-shaped, and camouflaged, helping them blend perfectly with their host plant.
- **Specific Tastes:** Small Blue butterflies lay eggs only on Kidney Vetch, ensuring caterpillars have the perfect food source.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 16-27 mm
- **Size:** 8-10 mm
- **Lifespan:** 5-10 days
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

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

- **Age differences:** Larvae eat flowers and seeds of specific host plants. Adults primarily sip nectar from various flowers.
- **Primary Foods:** Anthyllis vulneraria (Kidney Vetch) flowers, Anthyllis vulneraria (Kidney Vetch) seeds, nectar from various small wildflowers

## Ecological connections

- **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eurasian-blue-tit) (*Cyanistes caeruleus*) — Common bird that preys on butterflies
- **Pollinates:** Wild Thyme (*Thymus serpyllum*) — Adults visit small flowers for nectar, aiding pollination

## 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.
- [Miniature](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/miniature): Pertaining to species that are significantly smaller than typical or average for their kind.
- [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 Small 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 Small Blue's wingspan?

16-27 mm

### How big is Small Blue?

8-10 mm

### How long does Small Blue live?

5-10 days

### What does Small Blue eat?

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

### Where is Small Blue usually found?

Grasslands

### How many legs does Small Blue have?

6

## 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*)

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Source: [Small Blue: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/small-blue)